mccartna

Thanks for your replies! They have been really helpful!

Hola!

I have been recently approved for a CR-1 visa and my POE will be next week. I need to get my SSN ASAP so me and my wife are going to the Social Security office the next day of my arrival and apply there instead of waiting.

Will the SS-5 form and my passport with the VISA and the I-551 form be enough to apply for my SSN? Will I need anything else?

Thanks!

Enhorabuena! That's fantastic news! I am so glad it went well for you and that you'll shortly be reunited with your wife, it must feel great!

Thanks for the detailed interview info. I've been to the Embassy before to get some extra pages in my passport, and I think it was the in the same room you described.

Also, thanks for the medical information. Did you just go to your regular Centro de Salud to get the Td/Tdap booster and the serology? It looks like my husband also needs the booster since his last was in 2003. He's also in his late 20s, so the only thing he needs based on age is MMR which he has.

Gracias!

Yeah, I got the booster and the serology at my regular Centro de Salud. Just tell him to get an appointment with his "médico de cabecera" and they will arrange everything! Good luck!

Felicidades! I am glad it was a breeze and went so well! Time to celeberate with a glass of sangría

I saw you two got married on the same day as us.. so I was really praying for a good outcome for you yesterday

Thank you very much! I can't wait to get to the US and finally celebrate with my wife! haha

Same day, what a coincidence! Thank you for your prays! We really appreciate it

First of all, congrats!!! And thank you for the update! I know things vary a lot from country to country so my experience might not be the same but it's still great to hear. Did you go to the interview with your spouse or alone? I'm going alone to mine.

I understand they did not look at any of the originals that you brought to the interview or the proof of relationship at all?

The instructions for Argentina say to NOT bring phones at all, so I doubt they will keep it for me. You know, I also wondered about the ID pictures because in my "P4"/email from the embassy they mention the two or three things I need (medical, DHL sheet, passports) and passport pictures is not one of those items. Of course I took some just in case but, I feel like they might not need them like you mention.

Congrats again! The wait is killing me.

Thanks!

I went alone to the interview. My wife is in the US and it's been 6 months I don't see her

That's correct. They didn't look at any of the originals that I brought with me. I was able to see through the glass at my file (all the documents we have been sending since the beginning of the process) and she checked that the ones inside of it were originals and valid so she didn't request any others. The only documents I had to give them was the updated AOS package and she even said there was no need because we had no checklist at all, it was a mistake from the NVC (BIG F***ING SURPRISE!!) but since it had updated information they took the new form and returned the old one.

I didn't have to show any proof at all during the real interview. Just a few questions and that was it.

And yeah, my P4 letter doesn't list the ID pictures either although at some point it says something about obtaining the required pictures and then of course all the USCIS help sites tell you to bring them...

Hope you all pass the interview without a problem! I'm sure you will!

Hola!

I was approved! It really was an easy and smooth experience...

I had my appointment at 12PM and I arrived at the embassy at 11:30. There were 2 ladies outside "helping" and they requested my P4 letter. After I gave it to them, they went to the security guard and tell him our names. They opened the door, took my phone and made me go through the security scan. Then I was told to go to the waiting room. On the way there you can find a couple of photo booth machines so you can get ID pictures.

When you arrive to the first room another security guard will tell you to get a number from the machine and continue to the actual waiting room. It's a big room where there are multiple interview desks. There are some vending machines, restrooms and chairs where you can wait till they call your number on a screen. For IV there were only 2 appointments before me so I only had to wait 20 minutes. They called my name and this very nice lady requested my passport, took my fingerprints and went through my file checking that everything was fine. She verify my courier and contact information. I asked her to update my "previous travel information" in the DS-260 and she said to not worry about it because they were minimum changes. She asked for the sealed envelope with the medical information and she added it to the file. I had some AOS updated information so I gave it to her and she gave me the old documents. Everything else was fine and she didn't ask for any other document not even the ID pictures (I could see they had the one I submitted with the I-130 file). Then she told me to wait for them to call me again for the actual interview.

I had to wait another 20-30 minutes till they called my number again. This time there was a nice man who seemed to be in a rush (friendly though). He checked my fingerprints to verify it was really me and he started asking questions. He didn't even told me to do the sworn thing lol. He asked three questions: "how did we meet", "what does my wife do" and "where are we going to live". He said everything was fine, I was approved and I will get my passport with the visa in a week.

Time to prepare for the big change!

Mccartna, I have a question about the medical. Were you missing any vaccinations? I know there are a few that are required in the US but not Europe. Also, I am sure my husband had chickenpox as a kid and the vaccine against them didn't even exist when he was a child. Did they require anything on your part?

I don't know if it'd be worth getting a blood test for antibodies in advance to prove the missing vaccinations...he has almost all of them, but I can't find anything in his records about hep A+B.

Hi,

I didn't get any vaccination at the medical examination. I'm 28 years old and I found my old immunizations book and the only one I was missing was Td/Tdap so I went to my regular doctor and asked for it a couple of months ago.

Also, I had Varicella (chickenpox) when I was a kid so, again, I asked my regular doctor for a serology. After the test they were able to gave me a certificate stating that my body has the right antibodies to fight this illness.

So I brought my old immunizations book and the certificates of the Td/Tdap vaccination and Varicella antibodies.

On their website (Unidad Médica) you can find the next PDF with all the information:

http://unidadmedica.com/images/visados.pdf

I don't think the hep A+B shots are required if you are older than 18 but I would suggest you to give them a call or email them. They are really friendly.

Let us know how the interview goes! From everything I've heard, Madrid interviews seem to be pretty straight forward and short.

Suerte!

Will do!

Gracias!

Hola! I actually have the exact same question as you. My interview is a week after yours, so your list here is really useful. I have a few questions (see comments below, particularly about the IV package and the bona fide marriage proof). Thanks!

Hey!

- IV package (police, birth and marriage original certificates) I'm confused about this one -- didn't you already send these to NVC? Do you have a second set of originals? Are you bringing copies?

Looks good to me! Good luck!

Thanks!

Congratulations!!!! You're almost done.

Does the medical appt have to be in Madrid? Do both you and your husband have to go to the interview?

Yup. They used to offer a couple of clinics but now you can only do the medical examination at "Unidad Médica Angloamericana" in Madrid. Basically they just ask you some questions, check your lungs and heart, take a blood sample and get you up to date with your immunizations in case you are missing some. Then you have to go another clinic, "Doctores Sales", for making the chest x-ray and they give it to you in a CD and they will also forward it to the main doctor in the first clinic so they can finish your examination. It all costs 215€, unless you have to pay some extra vaccinations, and you can pick up the sealed envelope the next day after 12PM. The clinics are close enough in walking distance and I was able to do everything in less than 3 hours.

About who's attending to the interview, I feel like every case is different but unless they request otherwise only the beneficiary goes to the interview.

you missing means of communication..like phone records or email

Yeah I thought so too so I grabbed some letters!

Hola!

As many of you might already know, since July 2014 there are new security measures when it comes to fly with electronic devices from certain airports overseas.

Here's my situation: I have a laptop with a dead battery that only works while plugged in and I intend to bring it to the USA from Spain (probably without the battery since it's dead). It will be in my checked bag because I am already carrying too much stuff on my carry-on. Do you guys think I will have any problem with it? I don't want them to ban my suitcase from flying because it has an electronic device inside without battery but I really don't know if they check those devices for those bags or only the ones that will come inside the cabin...

All the information I have found online talks about the airplane or the aircraft but not about cabin or cargo so I really don't know what to think...

Here are some links:

http://www.aa.com/i18n/travelInformation/travelAlerts.jsp#!travelNotices

http://www.tsa.gov/press/releases/2014/07/06/enhanced-security-measures-certain-airports-overseas

Does anyone have any idea about this topic? Thank you!

Hola!

I have my interview in Madrid on next Thursday and I would like to know if I am missing anything! Here's the documents and stuff I am bringing to the interview:

- Current and old passports

- P4 Letter

- Courier and applicant information printout

- DS-260 confirmation printout and document with updated information about my previous travels

- DS-261 confirmation printout

- IV package (police, birth and marriage original certificates)

- AoS package (we were requested to bring an updated AoS due to checklist)

++ Checklist letter

++ Sponsor's updated AoS form

++ Sponsor's tax return transcripts from 2011, 2012 & 2013

++ Sponsor's employment letter, pay stubs and W-2 forms from 2014

++ Joint sponsor's AoS documents (same as for sponsor) in case it is needed

- Bona fide marriage proofs

++ Living together and travelling pictures

++ Wedding pictures

++ Bank statements of joint account

++ Census certificates of living together

++ Rental contract with both of our names

- ID pictures (a bunch of them because I'm not pretty sure how many they need)

- Medical results

You guys think we are good to go? Are we missing anything? Thanks!!

Hola!

We have our interview on next Thursday and I would like to know if we are missing anything! Here's the documents and stuff we are bringing to the interview:

- Current and old passports

- P4 Letter

- Courier and applicant information printout

- DS-260 confirmation printout and document with updated information about my previous travels

- DS-261 confirmation printout

- IV package (police, birth and marriage original certificates)

- AoS package (we were requested to bring an updated AoS due to checklist)

++ Checklist letter

++ Sponsor's updated AoS form

++ Sponsor's tax return transcripts from 2011, 2012 & 2013

++ Sponsor's employment letter, pay stubs and W-2 forms from 2014

++ Joint sponsor's AoS (same as for sponsor) in case it is needed

- Bona fide marriage proofs

++ Living together and travelling pictures

++ Wedding pictures

++ Bank statements of joint account

++ Census certificates of living together

++ Rental contract with both of our names

- ID pictures (a bunch of them because I'm not pretty sure how many they need)

- Medical results

You guys think we are good to go? Are we missing anything? Thanks!!

Alright ladies and gentlemen...

So we have just received the great news that they have accepted our expedite request!!

We just received word today from our embassy and confirmed it with NVC. The NVC rep stated that all paperwork will head off (hopefully) by the end of this week. I have no clue what that means in terms of time line but that at least saves me big time with the job - let's hope they will wait until paperwork and everything goes by pretty quickly - now must do my research and find out the time line I'll be waiting until hubby gets the interview confirmed.

I can't thank everyone enough - I want to say that I did bust my butt and made sure all information and data was given before I submitted. I don't go down easy and I will try anything to save my family financial difficulties. Thank God is all I can say and can think about right now. I'm in shock to be honest and I don't even believe it myself.

...Anyone know how (average) time an approved expedite request gets sent over to the embassy? Going to go through time lines tomorrow to find a good average.

Thank you for everyone's prayers - I pray for everyone else out there waiting to hear back from NVC and patiently waiting to reconnect with their loved ones.

Congratulations!

I can't tell you the average time but the expedite case I know through Madrid embassy went like this:

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/user/178248-altito/

2014-11-05 Expedite request accepted

2014-11-14 Interview scheduled

2014-11-17 Medical

2014-11-20 Interview appointment (approved)

2014-11-21 Visa issued

2014-11-28 Visa in hand

So hopefully you have an intense month ahead!

Thank you for answering. I have chosen Spain and then "Register" and it says:

Please select the condition that applies to you:

• I have received a Consular interview appointment date from the National Visa Center (NVC), Kentucky Consular Center (KCC), or the Consular Section and I have been instructed to register my appointment on this site.
• None of the above

The thing is that I'm not sure if I have been instructed to register my appointment on the site. I've reviewed my P4 and then the US Embassy for Spain and I can't find anywhere stating to do so. That's why I was wondering how they instruct you to register the appointment, in case that I have missed that part.

If it is just for having you passport delivered maybe I have to wait until after the interview? I'm confused about when and if I have to register lol

I just found this on the Madrid Embassy website:

All immigrant and fiancé visa applicants must register in the web page https://ais.usvisa-info.com/en-ES/iv to get the passport and the visa documents back by mail (No Fee). The registration page must be brought the interview day.

Everything's fine now!

Go to usvisa-info.com and choose SPAIN as your country and see if it requires you to register. If so register for an account and drop in your interview date in there along with your case number and confirmation number(same as DS-260 confirmation number). This website is used just to deliver your passport back to you so its no big deal and you can change the information on this website at any time before your interview date.

Thank you for answering. I have chosen Spain and then "Register" and it says:

Please select the condition that applies to you:

Hi,

I'm already preparing everything for the interview and I came across with this website:

https://usvisa-info.com/static/iv-landing.html

I'm under the impression that not every embassy requests to register the appointment and when you try to do so you can read the following, at least for Madrid one:

I have received a Consular interview appointment date from the National Visa Center (NVC), Kentucky Consular Center (KCC), or the Consular Section and I have been instructed to register my appointment on this site.

I am curious about how they instruct you to register your appointment. I have read Madrid Embassy website and my P4 and I can't find instructions to do so but I don't want to mess this up. Anybody knows how and when they tell you to register your appointment?

Thanks!

Where do you check your visa status? I would love to be able to keep an eye on it and find out when it arrives at the embassy.

https://ceac.state.gov/CEACStatTracker/Status.aspx

You will need your case number.

Happy New Year everyone,

I checked my visa status this morning and it says "In transit" so I proceed to track my case file and it has already shipped and it should arrive Madrid by January 5th.

As soon as my visa status says "Ready" I will ask the embassy for an earlier interview date.

Just got our P4 email

My interview date was scheduled yesterday: I got February 12th although I'll request for an earlier one as soon as possible.

My CC was on December 13th.

Hello Hello All,

Well after a grueling checklist - stating that one box about military service was not checked - Confirmed with my other paperwork that I printed the same time was checked - The supervisor reviewing it (Betsy) just stated that she checked the pages and the box isn't checked. I am so confused as to why I have two printed at the same time where the box is checked and the only one that was sent was the one that ISN'T? While I don't believe her I guess I have no choice...

So I've now wasted 2 weeks to get the new paperwork in and start the whole review time over again. I'm trying other options, just to let me know that I've tried everything to save my husbands job that we have secured when we get to the US - unfortunately another 60 days of waiting will probably mean the company will not wait for us and we will not have a job offer and well, probably not head to the US for months until we can secure another job.

Le Sigh. I guess the grumpiness is over - I spent the holidays in Euro Disney with my kids and hubby so I tried my best to enjoy that - ended with getting a bacteria infection in my gums and tooth and will now have to get a wisdom tooth pulled tomorrow (yes...on New Years Eve)...If this is any vision of how 2015 is going to be I am terrified!

Anyways, like the rest of us who have gotten a checklist and are now waiting I'll probably not be on very much...too busy keeping myself busy and figuring out how we can talk our job offer into giving us additional time for review. Lots of love to everyone who made it out of the woods...just can't believe that a box which I thought was checked turned out to be the problem in all of this.

Sorry to hear you are going through all of that.

Have you consider to do an expedite request based on the job situation? Madrid embassy accept that situation as a valid one for a expedite request. Maybe Geneva does too.

I am sure embassy may know but until your case file gets to the embassy they will not deal with you because they do not have your papers. They have to look at you case file to determine if they can accommodate you. So until it arrives sending an email is a waste.

Usually within 2 weeks case file are at embassy. Some get sent out within a few days some a few weeks.

Thank you very much for your response!

We'll have to wait then. Once that we got our date and we are aware that the embassy has our case file, we'll decide if it is worth it to email them and try to eat up a few days.

I'll update my information as soon as I heard about my interview date in case that you are interested in adding me to your sheet. I am aware we are not many Spaniards around lol

As soon as it has arrived at the Embassy if you send it when your files have not reached them they wont knows who you are. Good luck to you.

Yes you can request a earlier interview but hey have to have your files at the Embassy to do so if they even can. Good luck.

Thanks!

I guess my real question was when does the NVC let the embassy know about your interview lol

I was wondering if it would be right before they tell us, right after or, how you have pointed out, once they get our file.

Hey guys, how long should I wait to request an earlier interview date after I get assigned the first one? Let's say tomorrow I find out that they have scheduled me for early February... Should I email and ask the embassy right away?