Brazilian1901

It is not on hold, my wife has her interview tomorrow, got the letter a few weeks back. 

9-22 months

https://egov.uscis.gov/processing-times/

Can see VisaJourney timelines here https://www.visajourney.com/timeline/citlist.php?op6=All&op7=Washington+DC&op1=6&op2=&op4=1&op5=5%2C10%2C11&cfl=0 

Also, everytime you change something it gives you another 30 days so you can start filling out as early as you want.  The system will tell you the day you are allowed to submit. 

Bank Statements are fine, at least they were for me.

I got a CC last Tuesday and received an email today informing me that I am in line for an interview date.

You DO NOT have to translate for NVC. You DO have to translate for USCIS. At NVC if it's in the language of the consulate where you will interview you do not need to. I had a CC in less than a week at NVC with no translations.

No, you have to have them translated into English. Submit a copy of the original Spanish document and an accompanying English translation with each document you have to translate.

See here: https://www.uscis.gov/forms/file-my-application-online-e-filing/submitting-supporting-documentation

" Any foreign language document must be accompanied by a full English translation that the translator has certified as complete and correct, and by the translator's certification that he or she is competent to translate the foreign language into English."

This for USCIS and not NVC. NVC clearly states you don't need to translate if it's in the language of the consulate you will be interviewing with.

You have been given bad information. Yes, you must translate all documents.

I have found that it is more cost effective to translate everything in DR. For example I paid $40.00US to translate a doc here in the US, but paid only $700 Pesos to translate another document in DR.

The math adds up to a win by translating in DR. Don't let anyone tell you different.

Good Luck!

Beyond the fact that you don't need to translate there is no reason to pay someone to translate any of these documents if you are bilingual. You can translate everything yourself.

This line is a bit confusing "All documents not written in English, or in the official language of the country in which you are applying for a visa" I mean, the interview would be back in Santo Domingo, so the documents that are already in Spanish wouldn't need to be translated...

Leaving docs in spanish is fine if applying in a spanish speaking country like you are doing.

I am pretty sure you can only use income that will still be coming in when you move so Chilean income doesn't count. The focus should probably just be to find a joint sponsor who qualifies.

You can only pay the fees with US dollars, they do not go to the embassy but to an organ in the US. Unfortunately you will almost surely have to find a co-sponsor in order to get your visa approved. You will also have to work on proving that your wife is moving her domicile to the US. Lots of posts on how to do that, but that will be a major thing you will need to prove.

Mine was CC with a Thursday scan date, Monday 3 N/As and officially CC on Tuesday. I am married over 5 years, with a kid and living the last five years in my wife's country. Think that probably helped get me expedited.

Congratulations

So u emailed your documents or sent by post?

Emailed

i have one question, i am sending tax transcripts for all 3 years and not planning to use the w2 forms or the tax returns from last year. In the document checklist, should I mark the W2 and tax return as unavailable or not applicable? I just don't want to get a checklist of things.

I would say unavailable, I understood not applicable to be related to something like military record if you never joined the military.

Finally got a hold of NVC to confirm my case complete. Submitted on July 19th, received an email confirming receipt on the 22nd and case complete on the 26th. Interestingly NVC told me my case was complete on the 26th, but I had 3 N/As on the 25th when I checked. In any case, a ridiculously quick NVC turn around. No interview date yet and I'm guessing it will be a bit with being in Brasil and the Olympics coming up.

Ah, sorry thought it fit in with your post and didn't realize it was your signature.

Can't stand the guy, but that isn't a real tweet and is from a while back. Plenty of good to say about Khan and bad to say about Trump without citing something false.

http://www.snopes.com/donald-trump-fake-tweet/

Went with my wife, they asked a bunch of questions about if she had applied for any visas, if she was moving on this trip etc. but they were friendly, we told the truth and she entered without any problems. We brought a bunch of documentation to prove she had ties to Brasil, but we never were asked to produce them. Key thing with immigration is to always tell the truth.

You don't need to notarize anything. Translated documents you just have to include a statement saying the person who translated knows how to translate.

You can also call NVC to go over the choice of agent form (DS-261) on the phone which will speed it up. It is not the AOS fee holding it up, but the approval of DS-261. After you call the payment for IV is generally unlocked within 48 hours.

In fact my consulate (São Paulo) required me to send the passport scan to get the SSN.

I sent my I-130 mid February and got case complete at NVC yesterday for my IR-1 just to give some perspective. I think CR1/IR1 is the superior option.

Can't speak to Ghana, but seems like K3 is not really a good option any more. It isn't really faster than a CR1, is more expensive and adds an extra step. Lots of forum posts if you search CR1 vs K3

From a wiki on this site (prices are a bit outdated, but still probably pretty proportional):

Also check out this great compare tool

You can see the full list here

Method 1: Email processing
If your NVC case number begins with one of the following prefixes: AKD, AMM, BGH (except I-730 petitions), DMS, GZO, MEP, SAA


Method 2: Choice of processing

MTL

Any immigrant visa category

Email Processing or Mail Processing



GUZ

CR1, CR2, F1, F2A, F2B, F3, F4, IR1, IR2 or IR5

Email Processing or Mail Processing



BNS, FRN, HNK, RDJ, or SYD

IR1, IR2, IR5, CR1, or CR2

Email Processing or Mail Processing

Yup, it was there. AOS payment went from Paid to N/A

Yeah, not that much of a rush for me at this point, but thanks. Seems like maybe being married a longish (+5 years) time helps the case clear more quickly.

Thanks, number currently not taking calls, will try again later. Hopeful I can get a quick interview scheduled as well, though the Olympics probably won't help me with that.

Awesome, thanks everyone for the input. If it was indeed case complete so quickly that is only due to the help from so many people here. thamansa, did you get a follow-up email or any contact from them confirming case complete?

Thanks, currently not even letting me go on hold. I will try to call again later.