coke&fanta

hi!

good tip - will do!

for quick background, husband is from Botswana. we just got married a few days ago, he came here on a K-1 visa, we are now submitting the I-485 adjustment of status documents.

it seems like since he came on a K-1 - we do NOT need to submit the i-693 and I guess just ASSUME that the DS 3025 was filed properly and included in the packet that he handed over to immigration at POE.

anyone who can confirm this?

i am working on the Adjustment of Status packet and it is saying for the i-693 my husband needs to get a Civil Surgeon to sign off on some paperwork about vaccines. but he does NOT need to go get another medical exam. He had his medical exam 6 months ago and assuming all was file properly with the GS 3025, since he got the visa and is here. But I don't think we got a copy of the DS 3025. So now what? It is very unclear to me - some of the places i read it, it sounds like he doesn't need to worry about it at all, and other places i read about it, it seems like he needs to file the i-693 and DS 3025 adn have a Civil Surgeon sign off on it. Help!

Also, we are both wondering, is there any stamp or receipt or anything we get while this is processing in case he needs to proof he is not out of status? basically thinking if we go visit my family and fly there, he would use his passport for a photo ID and after June 8th it shows his visa will have expired. so what can we do to show security that he is not out of status? does that make sense?

Thanks all!

Hi!

We are STILL waiting for his birth certificate to process, but aiming for medical in mid-October (assuming his interview will be scheduled for late October or early November at this point since we are still probably two weeks from having the birth certificate and being able to schedule anything). Best case, we get it in the next week or two and have a shot at getting the interview scheduled for mid-October - will still make two trips down there.

Luckily we are only in Botswana so we can make two trips and he doesn't have to miss all that work or spend a week and a half in a hotel! Sorry for your fiancé!

A bit nervous that I may not be able to be there for the actual interview - so would LOVE to hear the feedback from your fiancé after he has it to see how it goes and prepare!

we are collecting the documents for packet #3 - hoping to submit the DS 2100/set a date for the interview by the first week in September or so!

thank you!

A few questions! Any advice is helpful – but particularly those working with the US Consulate in Johannesburg/South Africa.

1) I read recently on here that you have to do the medical on two consecutive days. Do they automatically fit this into the schedule for this particular Doctor? Assuming they do a lot of these immigration medical interviews? Also, is it easy to get the appointments if you call as soon as you have the visa interview date?

2) Also heard about medical that it has to be done two weeks before the visa interview. Is this still true? We will be traveling down from Botswana and this means two separate trips… just want to prepare ourselves and our budget.

3) I know the consulate says it takes 3-5 working days to process the visa. Has this been accurate for people? Again, asking because we will have to wait in South Africa and pick it up (can’t cross back into Botswana without it – unless there is some permit I don’t know about but my fiancé does that he could get). Wondering if they process it any faster than that – or maybe for those not from South Africa?

4) Lastly, we have a possible challenge with timing… I am currently in Botswana and scheduled to leave in mid-October. We are still waiting on his birth certificate from the national registration office. It should take 4-5 more weeks. If it takes longer, we run into timing – I would have to leave before we can get the interview in. How terrible of an idea is it to submit the DS-2100 before we have the birth certificate, if we are confident it can come in time for the actual interview? Has anyone one this before? I would hate to risk not having it and have to re-schedule.

Thanks for any and all input! This forum has been a godsend!

Hi all,

I am putting together the information for Packet #3 to prepare for the interview. Does anyone know if you need to bring the originals of the NOA1 and NOA2 approval (I-797C, I think is the actual name) to the interview?

Also, my fiancé and I live in neighboring towns and see each other a couple times a week, so there is really not a lot of documentation of mailing each other stuff or long phone calls or emails. What else can I use for proof? I sent pictures in with the I-129F petition and letters from my parents and two friends. I am planning to use more pictures, the receipt from the ring and the ring, and print a sampling of our Whatsapp conversations dating back throughout our relationship. I am also hoping to attend the interview with him, which I have heard helps. Any other suggestions of proof of relationship?

Thanks everyone!

Okay, WHEW! Thanks for the reassurance.

I have read all over here that Consulate's automatically do that.... but is that for ALL consulates or does it depend? If so, anyone with experience particular to Johannesburg?

Do they need a heads up to extend it - just an email to say you are still working on gathering all the required documents?

Thanks!

Hi all,

My fiance and I had started this process in March, working off the overwhelming advice to start early! Well, the petition was approved within weeks instead of months and now it is moving a little too fast! (Not for us personally, but for other considerations - my contract in Botswana finishes in October, then I am heading home to resettle and find employment before he quits his job and joins me - hopefully in March 2016). All this said, our petition is valid April 1, 2015 - July 31, 2015 (meaning he needs to have had his interview and get the visa by then). We would ideally love to have the interview in mid-September.

My question is - do we just drag our feet on gathering all the required documents and hope the Consulate is willing to revalidate the petition? If so, when do I contact them to tell them we are still waiting on documents? Or should I explain the reasoning (wanting gainful employment) and hope it is accepted? Or do we just deal with it and follow the timeline as it stands? Does anyone have experience getting the petition revalidated from the Johannesburg Consulate?

This all may be a moot point, since it is likely that some of the required documents will really take a while to gather - he never had a birth certificate, so that might take a while to get an original one issued here...

Thanks!!!!