ZaakirahM

I am moving next weekend and just filled out our DS-260, using the new address, as this is where we will be living when my husband comes to the US.

Does anyone know if this will be a problem and/or how I can change my address with NVC?

You must call NVC to inform them. I believe it is option 6 for changing your address.

Hi Vjers

I´m copying my experience here in this topic too to share with you that my interview was today 25th at 11am in USA Embassy in Lima - Peru.

And finally: APPROVED !!!!!!

First I want to thank God for this huge blessing !!!

And also thanks to all of you, that could help me with my questions, thanks dwheels because you suggested me to ask about the support with my passport and they are going to help me: I only need to go to DHL after my trip to Cozumel Island, then I can leave my passport in DHL office and Embassy will send it to DHL again including the visa.

Just for your information, these were the questions:

- Do you speak English? - I said yes (but my interview was in Spanish)

- My complete name

- Where and when did you meet your husband?

- What happened after you met him in that app? - She refers about when we met personally and also I talked about my B1/B2 visa, so she asked for my old passport.

- What do you like the most from your husband? - In this part, I got emotional talking about him, I was thinking about his face and the way he is with me and awww he´s my sunshine !

- Why did you start the paperwork on March if you got married on December ? - I explained because of the wedding we did not have the money to send the papers before.

- Also she said: Dont you see him since the wedding? - I said no, because I went to USA for his birthday in October, so I don´t see him since last month.

She took my old passport and with my B1/B2 Visa...and she has cancelled my tourism visa with a big stamp.

Then she said: your visa is approved, you can get your passport in 5 - 10 days (because it´s Thanksgiving tomorrow + Black Friday, so I´m losing like 4 days this week)

Oh myyyy... such a wonderful moment !!!!!!

In that moment I asked her a support, because we will have our honeymoon next week (it´s our 1st wedding anniversary) and I need my passport to go to Mexico, so she asked when I will go back and gave me the option to send my passport through DHL and they will receive it, stamped it and send it back by DHL.

That was all... many questions but I answered them with a honest heart and I´m sure she realized it.

I wish you all good luck on this process.... It took 9 months for us, but finally is done !

Thanks Visa Journey !

This is a great forum, I´m not going to forget you people !!!

Congratulations!!

That's great news. Very soon you should have an answer.

It's been 8 days since my husband's interview and approval and so far every time I check the passport tracker I get the same old thing.......

Passport Status : There is no status update available for the passport number submitted

,

If your status shows "origination scan", it means your passport has left the U.S. Embassy and is in transit to the delivery location you have chosen. It is however not available yet.

Only when the status shows "ready for pick up", it means you can go to the Aramex location you have chosen to pick up your passport.

So we just have to hang in there. I know the Thanksgiving days off will slow things down in the embassies this week. So now I suppose there may not be a status change until next week.

I hope you get the visa soon!

My husband has his visa, and returned home for a few days to pack and say goodbyes and then he flies out Nov 29th!

Hey guys, we sent an expedite request on November 20 but we haven't got any email at all yet.

For who sent expedite requests, did you get any confirmation that they got your email before they give the final decision( approval or denial ) or its just the final decision without any confirmation after you sent the email.

If you got that confirmation ,before the approval or denial, when did you get it after you sent the request ?

Thank you so much

We are confused wether to send the request again or wait???

Thank you again ?

I sent my expedite request on Sept 29th. On October 2nd I received the email that says the request is under review and has been forwarded to the embassy. On October 7th, the final decision was made: it was approved.

However, things may be different now because it is the busiest time of the year. You may have a longer wait as a result.

Thanks can you send me the link to this topic

lol, Renee14,

This is the post...

Moderators post with ~ ~ To inform you of posts being moved or removed.

Your post was moved to a different category so hopefully more people can answer your question.

I can't help, as I do not have kids!

Just got my CC today. I'm super happy. Maybe I shouldn't post in this thread because it's probably too late to get a December interview, but maybe just maybe! It does seem like the Philippines schedules interviews relatively quickly so we'll see what happens.

You are welcome!

DWheels76 will add you!

And you can hang around with us for about 5 more days! And then slide right over to the January Interviews!

For me...I had a November interview...but I didn't get it until November...so my progress is posted in the December thread.

Good morning every one! i just recieved an email stating that our case had been approved for an expedite and that the file will imediately be sent to the consulate, the email states all questions regarding interview date, filling and fees should be directed to the consulate, this is great news!!, my question is what is next? please advise, thank you.

Congratulations!

Now you wait!

Wait until your case says Ready (meaning it is at embassy) and then schedule an interview.

Check out your embassy's local website for exact procedures on how to go about scheduling an interview. Sometimes you email them, other times you select an appointment on a website.

Now is also a good time to start preparing the copy of the aos and iv forms, and any more evidence to either mail to your beneficiary, or to take with you if you are going to the interview.

when I go to ECAC, I have this new message that reads .... Please follow the instructions you received from the National Visa Center (NVC) that list the six steps you must take before NVC can schedule your visa interview appointment. This includes submitting to NVC various fees, forms and documents. Once NVC has received all the required items, they will let you know if anything is missing or incomplete. You can also find these instructions online at http://nvc.state.gov(English) and http://nvc.state.gov/espanol (Spanish). You will find contact information for NVC at http://nvc.state.gov/ask. .......

is this normal?

I'm not sure. It looks it like it saying...finish submitting documents and fees before NVC can schedule the interview.

It doesn't look like it has anything to do with an expedite.

So happy for your approval ZaakirahDemba! I cannot wait for that day to come for us.

We called NVC last week and my husband's case is complete with them Praise God! They said that they will set an appointment then mail his papers to the embassy after. News of the approval was on Nov 17, as of yesterday no appointment yet. I wish there was a way to push this appointment setting process, but I have read that we cannot call embassy until they have his paperwork, ugh!!!

How long did it take those who did not have expedite to get your appointment? We still haven't gotten email from NVC about the completion, if it hadnt been for my calling we would be waiting to find out still.

Thank you!

And congrats to you!

And yes, it will take a little while to get an interview.

If you look at this spreadsheet for Senegal...

You will see the date ranges from 30-90 days before you get an interview date.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1xbLl_8yDgHLeDaLnTrPdYc44J0sjPSFfYCKxlKx6uTY/edit#gid=0

if the original I-864 was sent to the NVC, can we bring the copy of the I-864 tout the interview?

if the original I-864 was sent to the NVC, can we bring the copy of the I-864 tout the interview?

Yes.

And Black ink only.

I just paid for my husband's green card online!
Our "60 day" wait game begins today.

Yes, after you're approved, your case will still say READY for a day or two (sometimes up to a week) then you'll see it change to Administrative Processing which means the visa is being processed, so that's good news, then from 24 hours to a week (or even 2 weeks) later it will change to ISSUED...so now I'm trying to find out how to know when it's ready to be picked up.

Yes. Same thing happened for us.

If you see my signature for timeline...hubby had interview November 18th and was approved. November 18th said ready still, I checked it Nov 19th...it Said AP (Administrative Processing) Checked it November 21st, it said Issued with the last status update being Nov 20th...so that was 3 days...but of course every embassy is different.

I got the consulate decision 2 weeks after nvc notification they forwarded it to embassy

True.

My embassy was amazingly fast. I received the under review email in 3 days, and 2 business days later received a response of the expedite approval.

My husband was told by Dr Hassan to come back on 11/25 after returning the bloodwork. A few days ago, He was able to call and beg him to move the appointment up a few days since this Thursday is a holiday. My hubbie would like to return his final medical results and evidence into the embassy on Tuesday before thanksgiving. He received his final medical from Dr Hassan and vaccinations today to return to the embassy tomorrow without a problem.

I would suggest that if you can't get into see the the doctors and forced to see Dr Hassan. Schedule your intitlal appointment 3 weeks out from your interview.

Thanks for the suggestion.

I do agree that Dr. Hassan Bahsoun should be at the bottom of the list. Since things went so smoothly for hubby and I at Dr. Awa Kane's, for those who still need to do medicals, I would highly suggest making an appointment with her office FIRST as soon as you get the interview date.

Please continue to keep us updated on what happens when your husband drops of things tomorrow (Tuesday). My husband also picks up his visa tomorrow (Tuesday).

congrats to you.

Thank you, luckyef.

Congrats! Wife flying into Atlanta POE Dec 2.

Yay! Congrats!

Hubby flew in yesterday 11/19.. I'm in heaven now!!! Good luck to all...I'll still be here in the shadows.

Yay! Soo happy for you!

My husband follows really soon!

Flying into ATL on December 1st! :-D

Greetings to the VJ massive.

Thanks for all who included us in their thoughts and prayers.

Not sure what to say about what happened. The positive: my wife's passport was kept. Unfortunately we had to send a document we were supposed to have but had a snafu. I think they should receive it Monday.

It sounds like the interview was short and went smoothly. I will follow up with more details about interview. I heard quite a few had their passport returned to them.

Also it sound like one popular question for the day was "what made you think about dating your husband". My wife said she heard that used more than once.

So we are in AP.

I will be back lol.

We'll be waiting. lol

@dweels or anyone with an expedite letter sample please post it. Thank you

First waiting for 3 na/s now waiting for the third na to change to paid since someone said could happen if an interview is scheduled. Too scare to call nvc too many times

Check out this link if you have not

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/515653-expedite-request-at-nvc-questions/

Never too many times. Too many times is good.

A question to guys: what color tie is the best for the interview? )))))

We've been checking my husband's wardrobe to pick the best outfit for our big day, and, since I am wearing a business suit, he should look formal too.

lol

Well for me...I had my husband wear my favorite shirt. it is also a shirt he considered his lucky shirt.

The dress shirt he wore...was a combination of my favorite color (blue).

It is also the same shirt he happened to wear during the first time he met my parents thru Skype.

So...making it personable..yet professional...would be my suggestion.

I randomly checked CEAC tonight and wow to my surprise, it says issued!

Wow! This journey is soon to be over!
My husband picks up passport with visa in it on Tuesday the 24th, and he flies out the 29th to arrive into my arms on December 1st!!

Just got off the phone with NVC.

Finally the guy told me that our case is complete...I had to ask him like 3 times because I didn't believe him. Because he said "Well it looks like we have everything we need from you", which is what they have told me for almost the last month then tell me about the backlog creating the electronic file etc...so I asked him and he said no everything looks good and you are in line to be scheduled for an interview.

Finally!!

Originally submitted on Sept 7th electronically, they lost the emails

Resubmitted with Scan date of October 12th.

Case complete November 20th (not sure on the exact date...I forgot to ask him I was too excited).

I am probably going to call back Monday to ask again...as I am still like...."are you sure??"

Don't jinx it!!

lol!

Congrats!

Been 8 days since they took my IV fee and still waiting for the damn IV fee status to change from "In Process"

I've read that they have been having technical difficulties with processing the IV fee which is causing the delay.

Sweetest Devotion- Adele

When We Were Young- Adele

Wow congratulations. .... :Joy

he respond after how long? I received this message Monday:Your request for the expeditious processing of this immigrant visa petition is currently under review. You will be informed of the results when the review is completed.

Then by this Monday minimum, you should receive an update.

You are ready to work right away as long as you showed that you have applied for an SSN. You can start work without having received the SSN.

How do you start work without an SSN?

For example, I'm looking at online applications for my husband at temp agencies, and they immediately ask for SSN.

Is this something he has to go in office for in order to avoid providing SSN?

Keep financial co-mingling and proof of trips together for ROC since the beginning of your marriage. But skype, viber, etc.. you can probably burn or shred.

Do not throw anything in the garbage. If you plan on getting rid of it, make sure it's destroyed.

True. This is another reason why I hoped my husband would bring them with him, as they do not have appropriate trashcans or paper shredders easily accessible over there. A bonfire might work...not sure if it is illegal to any sort though.

Thank you!

Hi!

So thankfully my husband was approved for his visa!

This is going to be a long post with notes compiled from the whole experience in Senegal to hopefully help someone else in the future.

This review is also in my timeline if you would like to book it for future references.

First things first, my husband is Gambian, so he had to travel to Senegal and stay a couple of weeks to get thru this process.

Medical:

Hubby waited about 2 hours to be seen by Dr. Awa Kane on Weds Nov 11. A nurse simply examined him (full body exam).

The next day (November 12th) he went for his x-ray and blood test at two different locations. Got the x-ray results the same day.

Friday the 13th, he returns to get blood results.

November 16: He returned to Dr. Kane's office to turn in x-ray and blood results, and finally finished with the medical exam. He actually received the medical results in a sealed envelope the same day he delivered the blood and x-ray results. He said he had to go get the vaccine needed (he does not have a vaccine record) from another location. He paid 10,000 CFA for the vaccine. Altogether it took about 4 hours that day.

So I guess my suggestion for you, interviewing in Senegal, is to schedule the medical exam a minimum of 5 working days before the interview. It is literally a 4-day process. But also call to make an appointment first with Dr. Kane before calling any of the other two. I have read that the other two Dr.'s will not give you your results before your interview because they are so busy...unless you schedule it way in advanced.

if you choose to make an appointment with Dr. Kane, you would have to be patient on the phone as English is not their first language. The menu is in French, the first receptionist you speak to is speaking in French. I googled how to say English please in French, and just repeated myself until I heard "hello". It doesn't matter who makes the call. I asked hubby to make the call originally. He got impatient and simply told me they speak French. But when I called (thru Google Voice or Rebtel), I waited a couple of minutes and got thru to an English speaking person.

So, excluding paying for transportation to and from each location, he paid 70,000 CFA for the entire medical exam.

Interview:

Based off of my notes from hubby's phone call:

Because Dakar is so understaffed, he actually had to help to translate other Gambians who spoke Mandinka (local language) better than English.

So he does not remember many of the questions that he was asked specifically, however he did say they asked a lot of questions about me, and they were looking at the pictures and evidence I submitted thru USCIS. Here are some of the questions he did remember:

How did you meet your wife?

Where does your wife live?

What does your wife do for a living?

Was asked about the mutual friend of ours who also filled out an affidavit for us and is our joint sponsor.

He arrived about 7am for his appointment at 8am and had to write down name as a sign in process at the gate and waited in line until about 10am.

Once he entered, It was a man who called him to a window, who gave him back a big USCIS package of documents and only took his original documents, passport/passport photos and the sealed medical envelope. They gave him the medical results back in the end.

He said it was easy and difficult at the same time and he would rather forget about it. LOL

He got a little nervous because they were giving him all the papers I frontloaded, did not look at the copies of other documents he brought, and gave him a ticket number and just told him to sit down and he waited for about 2 hours and he was the last person to be interviewed.

His ticket number was 108 (Ironically our special number because it took me 8 months to get a job and save the money for filing fees and then it took us 8 months to make it thru the process plus our NOA1 date was March 18th and Interview date was November 18th not to mention his interview appointment time was 8am)

It was a woman who interviewed him in a small room. It is the same woman who he helped to translate for others.

She did not look at the pictures even though he mentioned more than once that he brought wedding pictures; they only looked at the pictures I previously sent thru USCIS and took his passport and gave him a green ticket/piece of paper that says come back Tuesday at 2pm to pick up your visa.

He did not get originals back, but he did have copies and received back the other copies of the documents I sent previously to NVC and/or USCIS. However, he does plan to take them with him when he picks up his visa.

So my advice is to definitely frontload and be patient!

My husband recently got approved!

They gave him back all the documents I frontloaded.

So my question too is does he really need to bring everything back with him? He does not want to ship and does not want to pack it in luggage.

I don't know exactly what I will need.

A majority of the paperwork weight is the relationship evidence...for example facebook messages from the past year, viber and skype messages.

The AOS documents, and official forms...I'm sure I can ask him to bring.

But do you think I will need the evidence from the past year?

Or I basically start over with relationship evidence once he is here?