Rebe y Justin

Congratulations! If i remember it right did the biological father actually needed to attend the interview?

Thanks!

No, the embassy staff was giving my wife the wrong information. They answered all of her questions as if they were about the tourist visa process.

Then at the interview they asked No questions about the kids or their father or them leaving the country. everything went smoothly.

ex-husband was not needed at interview. my wife was given wrong instructions for a minor child applying for a tourist Visa. Also, did not need to show any papers or permissions for the kids to immigrate.

Wife and kids had interview last Thursday 11/3/2016, all 3 approved. Should have passports back today or tomorrow..

father signed papers agreeing for kids to immigrate to U.S. "poder especial"

^{wife already has papers from the government of Costa Rica giving permission for kids to leave the country "permiso de salida"}

What is the custody situation for the CR-2 kids, and do you have a notarised letter from the bio dad stating he is ok with them leaving the country?

custody was joint, but my wife has a formal "poder especial" or "special power" made by an attorney and signed by the ex. Then she received "permiso de salida" from the national child welfare agency.

I am worried that the people that answer the phones are giving her instructions for tourist visas for minors. Because, for a tourist visa the ex would have to attend the interview.

A staff person at the embassy in San Jose, Costa Rica told my wife that her ex-husband (biological father to my step-children, CR2 visas) needs to come to the interview. I am losing it! This can not be correct!!

Has anyone ever heard of this? Wouldn't that be grounds to refuse visa, looks like ongoing relationship? I called the embassy 2 weeks ago to ask about this and was told he does not need to come. However, the staffer told my wife again today that he does need to come. I think they are giving her instructions for tourist visas. I just can not see how anything good could come from an ex-spouse coming to the interview for a CR1/CR2!

My wife thinks he needs to come, I think it is a bad idea and completely wrong.

Thoughts? Knowledge? Opinions?

Embassy called my wife today (twice) ....... Interview is next Thursday 11/3/16!!!! Really short notice for me to fly out, but I will be there for sure!!!

That is absolutely ridiculous! But, it's just how it goes I guess. Not much you can do about it :/

Didn't see your other post until after I replied.

My wife had some hepatitis injections (I think "B") at her regular clinic. Her doctor told her she would need them before the medical exam. maybe check that and update varicella. Everything else was ok if your family has had their normal vaccinations in the past.

Oh, and my wife is 38.

This is what came in our instructions packet. doesn't help much. (attachment)

vaccine list.pdf

Got my interview for November 29. I'm sure this has been asked a million times, but how long is it usually between interview and actually having the visa in our hands? Our lease runs out at end of December so we need to be out of here by then. Thanks for any help!

congratulations.

Heads up, My wife and kids all had to have a Varicella Vaccination when they attended the medicals. They all had it previously, but required it again at physical portion of medicals. 30 mil each. Just wondering if she could have got it at a pharmacy or clinic cheaper.

My wife and kids are going to medical exams today. Urine exam for Costa Rica is $65.00 for 3 day results or $83.00 for same day results.

3 cases, status changed to "ready" this morning. Waiting for embassy (San Jose) to send email for interview.

I'm sorry if I caused confusion with the DHL tracking.

My cases are expedited and I knew they were being forwarded directly to the embassy without having an interview date scheduled. Also, Costa Rica has very few packages sent from NVC to the Embassy. Only 1 this week so far and 1 from last Friday. The one from friday could be mine or the one shipped out today.

How did u track it to know it will be delivered on dhl.com? Explain please

How can someone track application from nvc to embassy when on transit on ceac?

go to DHL.com

in the yellow box where you can track a shipment select "more tracking options"

next select "track by shipper's reference"

(this part is trial and error)

the reference will consist of ( "EXP" "day" "Month abbreviated" "year" "a or b")

Mine was (EXP 26 SEP2016A)

The day should be the day before the status changes to "in transit" My status changed on Sept. 27

The month and year can be together like mine or separated by a space like this; (EXP 26 SEP 2016A or EXP 26 SEP 2016B)

You will have to play with the space and combination of date and letter.

then select a date range to search, a few days before the status change and up to the date of the status change.

next select your Interviewing embassy country and click "track"

when you have the correct reference combination you will see a waybill or list of waybills for your country. look for one originating from Boston/Portsmouth with your country as destination.

That's great. Glad they are now all together.

Thanks

I Just found the tracking info on DHL. Looks like delivery will be tomorrow!

All 3 cases changed to "in transit" today!

Congratulations.I have added you to the spreadsheet. So the CR1 was CC 7/15/16?

Did you change your name from ElPerdido?

yes cr-1 was 7/15/16, had a checklist for both kids and held up wife's case until kids were complete.

ElPerdido is a different person, living in Costa Rica waiting to come home. I'm in the U.S. waiting for my family to come home.

Awesome!

What are you going to miss about CR when you get back eventually?

Well, I never lived in CR like you, but I always miss natilla and the turrialba cheese after a visit. Can't buy it here. The closest to natilla is a table cream I found at an international food store. I think it was Mexican table cream(not a sour cream)

I know my wife and kids will miss everything and I hope they can feel at home here. Them being unhappy here is my biggest fear.

confirmed, cases complete

Finally, all 3 cases complete and being forwarded to the embassy in San Jose.

anyone have experience with expedited cases at San Jose? Timeline for interview?

CASE COMPLETE!!!!!

Congratulations!! Us too!!

3rd N/A on both kids cases (CR-2's) today. Calling to confirm in the morning. Por fin!!!!!!

Yeah that's what they told me too. And I scanned through this thread and that's exactly correct - some folks with scan dates after us got through already. I aint mad at those folks or anything, congratulations to 'em, but yeah, frustrated as all get out.

A big problem is my current living arrangement is good through December. If I can't leave by then, I don't know what I'm going to do. And I have like 3 cats and a dog, not sure what to do with them if I have to leave. There's a BnB near me that does allow pets but I don't know if that many.

bringing the pets to the U.S.? My wife is part of some group of people that help to find homes for abandoned and homeless animals. She is always taking in baby kittens and she has 3 dogs at her house. She lives in Coronado ( for the time being). She might be able to help you if you need it.

Dang. I feel like I'm never going home.

I just got off the phone with NVC again. Told me they had an extreme volume of mail come in back in July. I'm pretty sure that people who had scan dates after us have already had their docs reviewed. Just sucks! I just imagine my files on the floor under somebodies desk collecting dust. half expecting to get another checklist for the same stuff.

It's been six weeks since NVC received the stuff they asked for (ONE DOCUMENT) on the checklist. They said it's automatically moved to the supervisor after the six weeks, and might take up to another six weeks. Has anyone else had this? Did it take the entire six weeks after it moved to the supervisor?

I'm still in the same situation as you, waiting for supervisor review. I sent request for assistance to Senator Corker's office here in memphis. Don't know if it will help us any.

My wife and had the "discussion" about getting married. After that we referred to each other as "fiance". We planned our wedding while she was in Costa Rica and I was in the U.S.. I did not see her in person from the time we had officially decided to get married and my return trip to Costa Rica for the wedding. However, when I arrived at SJO (airport) the first thing I did was get down on 1 knee and present her with her engagement ring and ask her to marry me. Wedding was a few days later.

I don't know of any formal process here, only a tradition of asking for someones hand in marriage before you refer to them as your fiance.