acajim

I don’t know if you have a birth certificate, if you don’t and you need one, you can get it at the close the Mexican consulate. You need to request it online here https://www.gob.mx/actas

I don’t think she would end with 2 SS numbers, they would check name, birthdate and green card number. If you go to the SS office, they could give you a receipt with her SS# if she has been assigned one. Bring the passport to show the temporary visa. Good luck.

Print the email. Or use another computer, tablet or phone to check if you can open the link.

I think we should consider that when somebody ask a question in this forum, is because they’re looking for an answer, they don’t have any reference and “common sense” is only valid when we have some experience from past events. We need to be careful on how we deliver the answers.

Yes, this is it

Don't panic. As I read, your husband is the person applying and he's in the US already. Let me tell you a story: We have a refugee from India living with us while he was applying, he wasn't flag in India, but he tested positive here in the US, he just had to go see the doctor and take pills for some weeks, I don't remember how many. He was cleared after treatment.

I've met people from Mexico that tested positive while applying abroad and they have to stay in Mexico during treatment that last 6-12 months. I've also met people that are suspected to be TB positive and they have to submit cultures and wait 8 weeks for the lab results before they can schedule an interview. So maybe the X-ray is a struggle but at least he's here with you.

Good luck.

Not the same issue but somehow similar. I bet is being processed but haven't sent it out yet, they still have the passport, hence the AP status. Nothing to do, just wait.

I've received wire transfers and western union from Mexico. For the wire transfer, they ask in Mexico, when the person sends it, the name of the recipient, address, account number AND social security (yours). It goes to a bank, in my case, it went to a bank in New York, then it was transfer to my credit union in California after few days. I also received the western union, just got the tracking number, when to their office and get the cash. As some members have said, $10,000 is not a huge amount, but it could be at the time to convert it into dollars. Ask your fiancee to shop around and get the best exchange rate, a few pennies per dollar X 10,000 can make a big difference.

Good luck!

You can look into apprenticeship if you don't mind starting from the very bottom, at least that'll get you started earning money while you can find other options. Find out if there is a IBEW office in your area, or any other electrician's union, they can give you the information you need to start.

I went to Servicios Medicos de la Frontera too, I called and confirmed they'd receive applicants until 11am, so I showed up around 10:30am with no appointment, the waiting room was empty and I even thought it was already closed, I checked in and went through the whole process in about 30 minutes. One of my friends had his medical about a month earlier, he went early in the morning, he said is very busy, all the guest houses (casa de huespedes) bring their guests at the same time, plus walk-ins and appointments.... He spent about 3 hrs there.... call around and find out their hours of operation, then choose the best for you.

I have Acrobat Pro and I can manipulate the PDFs, I know is an expensive program, I hope some of your friends have it. The other option is to rescan the documents and lower the resolution before scanning.

I used the house when I applied, I don't know if your friend has a mortgage or if the house is paid off. My case was easier, because our house is paid off and I sent just the deed. If there is a mortgage, then you need to send more evidence. The net cash value is the market value minus any loan, lien, etc. I kept the instructions and here is the section you need, good luck to your friend.

Only assets that can be converted into cash within one year and without considerable hardship or  nancial loss to the owner may be included. The owner of the asset must include a description of the asset, proof of ownership, and the basis for the owner’s claim of its net cash value.

You may include the net value of your home as an asset. The net value of the home is the appraised value of the home, minus the sum of any and all loans secured by a mortgage, trust deed, or other lien on the home. If you wish to include the net value of your home, then you must include documentation demonstrating that you own it, a recent appraisal by a licensed appraiser, and evidence of the amount of any and all loans secured by a mortgage, trust deed, or other lien on the home. You may not include the net value of an automobile unless you show that you have more than one automobile, and at least one automobile is not included as an asset.

Item Numbers 1. - 4. Assets. To use your own assets, you must complete Part 7., Item Numbers 1. - 4. and submit corresponding evidence with this af davit. Supporting evidence must be attached to establish location, ownership, date of acquisition, and value of any real estate holding.

My ¢2 about the infopass:

I scheduled an infopass appointment, the first available was about a week ahead. I went to the Tukwila office (South of Seattle), and surprise! they were letting people in without an appointment, straight walk-ins. I don't know if this has changed, but if I was you, I'd play stupid and say I didn't know I had to have an appointment..... but schedule the appointment before you go!

Good luck!

After reading 9 pages, divorce is the most common answer, and is a great answer, it's quick and you don't have to face the origin or reality of the problem. But, is the right choice? You're the only person who can answer if is worth fighting for your marriage.

So far I like the response from JKStark about the possible reasons of her behavior, I also like the response from NelmaGriffin about cultural differences.

OrangesApples brought up something very important that I may not understand to its fullest, so I'll give you my personal point of view about the last name, to me, it's not important. Couples with same last name can fight and cheat on each other, while couples not even married can be faithful 100%. As I'm reading all the posts, I came across Eric & Idalia post about the last name.

Anniversary date is not important, at least to me. Going back to cultural differences, I've seen that here in the US, dates like birthdays, anniversaries are very important, anniversaries to broken relationships!

Facebook? for your is important... is it important for the rest to know you're married? Maybe, maybe they don't care.

RLA has a point: Maybe she doesn't feel loved by you, and if you don't fix it, the relationship won't have any chance to survive.

I didn't like the comments from Aussielad. We don't know her side of the story.

I found Natyerus questions very important, this is from a person who can relate to your wife, being from the same country.

You could be insecure, needy or both, that's not a problem as long as the other person likes it that way. You just need to find the correct person.

As some others already post it, if we ask your wife, what would she say about you? Have you change? Have you hurt her in any way? I'm the immigrant, and I've seen many times that here in the US is very acceptable to say whatever it comes to mind, then apologize and expect that with just one "I'm sorry", life goes back to what it was. In other words, sometimes is the way we say things and not the essence of the message that's hurtful.

By no means I'm putting the blame on somebody, but you said you're in your 30s, and this is your second wife, What happened to your first marriage?  .... we all have our past and we all are carrying our own baggage that can affect our present relationships. It'll be better to have an impartial point of view, from somebody who can speak with you as well as with your wife. Reading your message, of course we all going to blame her, but it wouldn't be fair. Keep your integrity and give her a chance to express her point of view. You both can learn from each other and have a better communication.

Good luck.

I checked the form and in some questions you have the option to leave it blank, like 11.a and 11.b, I also read somewhere online, that you need to answer all the questions. I'm not sure, and I hope somebody who went through this step can help here, I found this page  where you can change the address on line:

https://egov.uscis.gov/coa/displayCOAInitForm.do

 Is your current address the same as the mailing address?

I'll try to answer your questions in the most positive and complete way, so you guys can prepare when you go to the appointment:

I know of 3 cases, 2 guys who I befriended when we all were going this process, and myself. 2 appointments 2 years ago, and the 3rd appointment a year ago. We did not receive any information from the lawyers, although they knew the process, they didn't warn us at all, at least you're now aware. Your suppose has to disclose his status, not that they really need it, most likely they already know when they run the background check. The interview will be automatically cancelled, the clinic will collect 3 samples, 1 each morning, consecutive days, will release the results and send them to the consulate 2 months later. The consulate has 5 business days to process the results, will schedule a new appointment and will send the letter to the address in the U.S., (not Mexico), if your spouse or you have the email address registered in the system, the automated service will send a notification as soon as the appointment is schedule. Now the time in Mexico: Whatever the date is, try to go to the medical exam on Monday, that day your spouse will be sent to give the samples, that are collected in the early hours, around 6am, and remember that these are 3 consecutive days, so if for some reason you're there on Thursday, you need wait until Monday to start the samples. The results are ready right away, but the CDC requires a culture, which takes 8 weeks, why? I don't know. Assuming your spouse is going few days before, + 8 weeks, + 1 more week for processing, + the waiting time for the interview, and finally the time to get the visa, we could be talking about 3 to 4 months.

Call the insurance company, usually the will authorize 3 months for vacation time, just call right after it is refilled, so you have a total of 4 months. You can not send medicine by DHL or by mail, if the mexican customs find it, they'll confiscate it. Bring everything you mention, medical record, x-rays, sputum test results, vaccination record, everything helps. I brought all that (sputum test results, letter from doctor, list of vaccinations, X-rays on CD AND film, full medical record), the doctor was very impressed and even said they have only few minutes to spend with each patient, and she hoped all the applicants were as prepared as me...... and even with all those eulogies, I was stuck in Mexico for 3-1/2 months!, granted, that was 2 years ago, the process now is a little faster. Our visa was held 2 weeks after the interview before printing it. Now, there is no 2-week waiting time, they can issue the visa right away.

After the visa is issued, you have only 3 months for the applicant to enter the U.S., not the regular 6 months, and I don't remember when the clock starts, so you don't even have the whole 3 months. The point of entry has little to no information about the TB test, in my case, not even the local office had any information, supposedly you need to report to the department of health of your state within 1 months upon entry..... we didn't know, my 2 friends in CA were found when an agent (Health department, don't worry) knocked on their respective door. I was contacted by phone, the Health department requested my test results from Mexico and a blood sample.

Plan to stay that long, I hope they change the rules, we were told that they're trying to take the results from the U.S., like those you mention you already have, and waive the culture process, as long as the tests were done here. Unfortunately is very difficult to find this information, better to prepare, at least you now know the waiting time in Mexico most likely is long. In my friend's case, the first person of our group to go, he was prepared to stay 1 week, only a small backpack not even full of clothes and  a pair of shoes, he really suffered when he was struck with the news that he was staying a little longer, fortunately he was able to be rehired after he came back.

I hope I've answered your question, feel free to PM me.

Oh my! I just checked your user name and you have a date already!

Good luck, I can say that even if this last step seems hard, it is, but is worth it..... is the last step. good luck, good luck, good luck.

Acajim

I hope somebody who has driven from Houston to El paso can give a detailed information, meanwhile you can check this map that I have seen before.

Good luck!

https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=1L872WkbWL11Zob-E9Oyk_Zen1Ws&hl=en_US&ll=30.36332925760974%2C-107.83628500000003&z=6

Ibis hotel and City Express are very close to the consulate and the shopping center. Very safe. Ibis will be less expensive if you can book as soon as possible, great rates if you book more than 4 weeks in advance. I stayed at both, not great, but not a nightmare either. 2 of my friends stayed at a "casa de huespedes" and they didn't like it, the person running the house charged them for everything and the WIFI signal was from a neighbor. They had to go back 2 months later and they stayed at the Microtel and they loved it. The Microtel is also in the same block as the consulate.  Good luck!

If you book at least 4-weeks in advance, the Ibis hotel may be the cheapest. But you have to book it right away, otherwise the price will go up if your dates are within 4 weeks. Check Hotels.com, they have it for $42/night right now. The hotel is not the greatest, but you're going for the interview, not to a spa.

Good luck and I hope your wife gets approved.

I think you're still in the Philippines, and if you're going the IR-1 and want to resign from you job, I assume you're moving to the U.S. if your visa is approved. If this is the case, do you really need to give your employer a 30-day notice? Yes, it'll be nice to give them that time to find somebody, and also if you'd stay in the country, so it's not a red flag for a future potential employer, but if you're leaving the Philippines, that is not as important as it may be if you stay there. I'd wait until you're visa is approved and then give them the notice you need, not necessarily 30-days. Secure yourself first, don't resign before you have a positive answer from the consulate.

By any chance, how many days notice an employee receive from the employer when they want to terminate somebody?

Very good luck.

if your attorney creates an account at the website link that I posted above, make sure you have the email used to sign in and the password. You'll need it to monitor the status of your case. I saw way too many cases that the applicant was there, waiting from the lawyer's office to check the status because they were not given that information to sign in and check themselves. 

It's very easy, just need your case number, passport number and the letter you received. The site will ask you for this information, if you don't want to wait for the lawyer.

Book the hotel quickly, don't wait until the last minute. Prices go up if you book within 2 weeks. City Express, Ibis are the closest to everything. Maria Bonita, Quality Inn and El Conquistador are only 1 block away. No need for transportation if you stay in any of these places.

Good luck!

I read other posts that this is very common, I don't have the links now, so you could read the comments, sorry. One of the posts said the person called the POE directly.

My POE was in Texas, and some don't process K-1 or R-1, that is for Mexico-US. not sure if all of the Canada-US can process K-1s. i'd call and ask, the main on I-5 is very busy and I don't know if they have an office there, we cross by car. I went through Pacific Hwy 1 time, when the Victoria Clipper broke down and we had to take a charter bus to Seattle. We had to get our of the bus and check in with immigration. Here is a link with their phone number:

https://www.cbp.gov/contact/ports/blaine

Good luck!

I'm not sure if these DHL Express locations are actual offices or just drop-off boxes. 

I don't know if you already registered your appointment, after you receive your appointment letter, you need to go to this website  and register: https://ais.usvisa-info.com/en-mx/iv

This website will give you the options of the valid DHL locations that you can select. This is the same website where you can check when your visa is issued and also you can see the tracking number.

I picked the DHL office on Lopez Mateos. I tried to change it to my hometown, but once you pass your interview date, it can't be changed. I had to stay in Mexico 2 months, thanks to the TB testing. I went to the interview, went back to hometown, and then flew back to Cd Juarez to pick up the visa. I crossed to El Paso to take a plane to Seattle, there was an immigration agent right at the TSA checkpoint, checking every passport, but for some reason it didn't check mine...go figure. I think they won't check if you're just changing planes, you already passed TSA at the originating airport, but if you're coming in, then you need to pass TSA.

If your question about my experience with DHL is about time delivery, I may not be the best example, since I went back, waited to receive the email with the tracking number, then I waited another week  to pick it up, i took my time. I did see some people that got the interview, tracking number AND visa in the same day, the majority received it in 3 days, but at the same time I spoke with some people that waited 14 days, I left and they stayed in Juarez waiting. I read somewhere that if you don't receive the visa within 28 days (I'm not sure, I hope somebody can help me), then you can contact the Consulate so they can trace it.

It'll be better if you have a phone with internet access, the hotels have free WIFI, but everybody is using it and it crashes. I had T-Mobile, with unlimited data and talk.

Congratulation Zurdo.

The area is safe, there is a lot of police presence around the clock. I stayed at the Ibis and at the Junior Express and walked everywhere, to the mall, pharmacy, Walmart and Costco (a little far, but I like to walk). I didn't go out after dark, just to be safe.

1. I flew to El Paso, I took a taxi to Cd Juarez, It was a little expensive, about $70 and not all the cabs like to cross the border. The cab driver told me that immigration agents are at the airport from time to time (well, they're there all the time, checking all the outgoing passengers) and that morning they have taken a person into custody, sad because that person was going to his interview. Going back to the transportation,  2 of my friends flew to El paso also, one of them called Uber and the driver took them to Cd. Juarez, so you may have that option, check first. 

2. Either Quality Inn or Maria Bonita (by the Consulado Americano) are just half a block away from the American consulate. You don't need any transportation. It's easier and faster to walk. The Maria Bonita is closer to the mall, although the Quality Inn is not that far. Quality Inn is north of the Consulate, Maria Bonita is South. Finger prints is north of the Consulate, Doctors are south. There is a Pharmacy next to the Quality, they sell snacks and beverages too.

3. I took a cab once to go to the airport and I used those parked outside my hotel. I was told it's safer to take those because the hotel has a contract with the cab company and it's easier to track them down. I did take the hotel shuttle some times and also the buses, the buses are not very nice, they're clean, but not in the best shape. 1 caught on fire and I saw people jumping from the back emergency door.

PS Boost of Virgin phone didn't work 2 years ago, T-Mobile worked perfectly, no extra charges with the North American Plan, just 5-10 dollars/month. This might have change.

Very good luck!