Erik

I'm going to talk to her tonight and see if she can call tomorrow. I've been the one handling everything, so she's really not 100% sure whats going on, she just does what I tell her to do.

I did respond to they're email today with the following:

Dear Sir or Madam,

There must be some sort of confusion. On August 29th, I sent you an email asking you to confirm weather or not you had received our approved petition from the NVC (NVC stated it was sent out to you on August 22nd.)

The reply I received from you folks was the following.

Dear Sir or Madam:

This office has just received your fiancée petition. We will send the packet of instructions to her this week.

Regards,

IV Unit

So, I'm not sure I understand whats going on here? Please clarify this

Thanks

Hopefully I hear back from them soon.

Erik, try and call them. They have this policy of giving short answers to e-mails. Sometimes, that's all we need. Sometimes we need to talk to someone. You can still call them (it's 2:44pm here). They take calls till 3:30pm. Although you might want to try and call tomorrow at 1:30pm so you don't have to be on hold "forever".

Yeah only problem with me calling them is it is difficult right now for me to leave work, and I'm not able to call using my cell phone.

Email sent on August 29th asking if they received our petition. Response from Consulate:

Dear Sir or Madam:

This office has just received your fiancée petition. We will send the packet of instructions to her this week.

Regards,

IV Unit

Email sent yesterday, letting them know my address has changed since our USCIS approval. Response from Consulate today:

Dear Sir or Madam:

So far, this office has no records of the mentioned petition. We can only make any changes when we receive the process here.

Regards,

IV Unit

I give up!

Good lord, it's an "approximation" of when your petition will be adjudicated, it is impossible for it to be exact, and is probably more incorrect now than ever due to the IMBRA fiasco. At one point mine said Nov. I was approved at the beginning of August... so take it with a grain of salt and move on with your life

They do clearly state it's TWO DS-156. Go figure.

Yeah, yeah, but for those of us that haven't actually seen the contents of Packet 4 yet, it could mean a few different things.

And co-sponsor passport and birth certificate too!

(Heard somewhere some had problems with this)

You said that the co-sponsor passport and birth certificate have to be originals too.

I don't see why that is. (Or maybe I do but I am just incredibly stressed). My dad wasn't born in the US, he was born in the Philippines. So while I know when he was born, I don't know where he kept the original birth certificate. I know his naturalization certificate is here in our home. My assumption from reading the paperwork about umpteen times was that if one was using a co-sponsor a copy of the naturalization certificate or birth certificate or passport was sufficient.

I am frustrated because I thought I had everything done, now I find out that apparently my dad's original passport is needed as well. (For lack of a better term, ####### is that?!) I hope that he doesn't have to travel out of the country anytime within the next two months because who knows how long the people at the embassy will take to let my fiancé know of his interview!

I don't mean to talk for Ieva, but I guess she meant that the OP shouldn't forget to send proof of citizenship of the co-sponsor together with the I-134 that they have to fill out.

Right, and I believe she was talking about having the co-sponser send "copies" of they're passport, or certificate... If a co-sponser had to send they're original passport, or birth certificate over seas, I would imagine many people would have a hard time getting one

DS-154 or DS-157? I don't see a DS-154 on the Consulate Website.

D'oh, Mew. Typo! DS-157. Sorry about that, Erik.

no problem, just made me think "ahhh ######, ANOTHER damn paper to fill out!?!?!"

Well, they send 2 forms - 2 DK-156 - to be filled out, so I filled the two of them.

oh wow, so they do actually send 2 identical DS-156 forms in packet 4

Yep, they do. 2 DS-156, one DS-156K, one DS-154, one FS-257a and a sworn statement.

DS-154 or DS-157? I don't see a DS-154 on the Consulate Website.

Well, they send 2 forms - 2 DK-156 - to be filled out, so I filled the two of them.

oh wow, so they do actually send 2 identical DS-156 forms in packet 4

Hi all.

I just sent my fiancé in the UK my half of the application stuff with the financial information included. I asked my dad to be a joint sponsor (to which he consented) and included copies of the W-2/1099 etc, 2005 tax return and the first pages of his passport showing his picture and signature. We also included copies of letters from the bank regarding our financial status.

My fiancé is about to send the whole thing off to London pre-interview but I am freaking out because it says that all documentation must be original along with one photocopy.

So does that mean I have to send him my parents' 1040 and W-2 (originals) AND his passport and/or naturalization certificate? What exactly must absolutely be original, and what is ok to send as a photocopy?

By all accounts a copy of the Passport, and copies of income tax returns are fine. I wouldn't imagine the Embassy would think a co-sponser would actually send they're real Passport.

Bank letter, employment letter, notorized I-134, copies of Passport and or birthcertificate, copies of past income tax returns, should be all you need

Hi, Erik

I did fill 2 sets of all forms and handled them to the woman that keeps our documents before we go to the interview room. They ask for 1 original and 1 copy ( 2 sets )

Thanks Liszy, I was under the impression you only needed copies of those documents that you did not need to sign... like the Police Certificates, Birth Certificate etc.

But, your saying 1 original DS-156, and 1 copy of it is fine? Rather than filling out 2 by hand?

Maybe my confusion is because on the list it states what documents they want "copies" of, the "two form" thing has thrown me for a loop

Hey all,

Just want to get some clarification on this. On the list that tells you what order to put your paperwork for the interview the fourth item is "Two forms DS-156".

Maybe I'm over thinking this, but when they say "two" forms, do they mean both pages of the DS-156? or do we need to fill out 2 sets of the DS-156?

Unfortunetly, 2 weeks later she lost the baby due to complications.

But, a normal pregnancy, no

So sorry to hear that Erik. That's so sad. Wish your fiancee a better pregnancy next time.

I'm curious, did the USCIS ask for documention as to whether you are able to pay for her health care if she came in early? This gets technical of course, but if she's not your wife yet, she can't get coverage with your health insurance and I'm not sure you can get temporary health coverage if she's already pregnant. So did the USCIS care about the medical cost of a high risk pregnancy or your ability to fund the medical care?

Thanks SirLance, it was a difficult time, but we pray the next time all will go well, and she'll already be here, so hopefully much better all around.

They did not ask me anything about financials, or insurance in regards to this. They basically just wanted proof of what the Dr. was saying. Also, my fiance is about a 3 hours bus ride from any kind of credible hospital, so that was another huge concern if she needed immediate emergency treatment. So, I don't know if they take that into consideration for things like this, I think they are more focused on the situation itself.

Not 100% sure though, as we never made it to the expedite process.

So do you think CSC staff will be back on Tuesday or taking extra time off. Personally I think all leave should be cancelled until I get my approval but CSC might not agree!!

Considering how long you've been waiting, I would have to agree with you

Pregnancy can be used to expedite "if" the women has medical conditions that will make it a High Risk Pregnancy.

After I returned from Brasil for a month, we found out my fiance was pregnant. At her first medical check up, the Dr. told her she was a high risk pregnancy, and she would have many complications throughout her pregnancy due to an extremely small uterus.

Because she doesn't really have access to great Medical Care, it was a huge concern (obviously). I spoke with USCIS about the situation, and they stated if we provided documents from the Dr. about the risks of her pregnancy, it would qualify for expedite services.

Unfortunetly, 2 weeks later she lost the baby due to complications.

But, a normal pregnancy, no

Thanx everyone for your replies. Hopefully we'll get her interview date this week!

Anyone else get this weird kind of feeling when you finally got an interview date, and knew the end of all this ####### was actually closing to a near?

Maybe it's just disbelief, as at the beginning of this journey, you never believe it's actually going to come to an end.

Hey Bill, how are you and the Ms. doing? Send me an email when you get a chance, and have the Ms. resend one to Ananda! I'm sure Ananda would love to hear some encouraging words from a fellow country woman about the interview process!

Tchau!

Hey everyone,

My fiance Sedex'd the requirements asked for by Packet 3 today. I paid a stupid amount of money, but was told it would arrive in Rio on Monday (she mailed it this morning).

Once they receive it, they assign an interview date, and then ship off Packet 4. Let's say they get it on Monday, is it possible to contact them and ask them what the interview date will be before my fiance actually recieves Packet 4?

I could of sworn I remember someone on here doing that. I would be very curious, as if it is possible that I could call them and get the date next week, I can start to plan our travel plans (I plan on going to the interview).

Anyone got the answer?

Here's another one, any clue how long it takes them to assign a interview date after they receive the ds-2001, and ds-230 part 1?

Check my signature, Rio received my case on 8/21, on 8/22 Charles called them and they said the case was there just to confirm and that they sent me the packet 3. On 8/22 I sent the packet 3 by sedex 10 (paid almost 40 reais so it would get there 10am the next day). The next day 8/23 it arrived there before 10 am, I waited 1 day to call and on 8/24 I called and they told me the interview date. So call them, e-mail them, don't sit and wait.

Just an example, they sent me the packet 3 on august 22, it's september 1st and I still haven't received the packet 3. If I had waited for it to arrive here so then I would send them the packet 3 back I'd probably have my interview at least 2 weeks after the day it is, if not more.

As for how long it takes, they got my packet 3 on august 23rd and my interview date is october 10.

Good luck

Hey maybe we'll have interviews on the same day!

Hey everyone,

My fiance Sedex'd the requirements asked for by Packet 3 today. I paid a stupid amount of money, but was told it would arrive in Rio on Monday (she mailed it this morning).

Once they receive it, they assign an interview date, and then ship off Packet 4. Let's say they get it on Monday, is it possible to contact them and ask them what the interview date will be before my fiance actually recieves Packet 4?

I could of sworn I remember someone on here doing that. I would be very curious, as if it is possible that I could call them and get the date next week, I can start to plan our travel plans (I plan on going to the interview).

Anyone got the answer?

Here's another one, any clue how long it takes them to assign a interview date after they receive the ds-2001, and ds-230 part 1?

What I don't get is if you go to brol.com and look up one ticket, round trip, it's about $750.00US. But, if you enter that there are 2 people flying, the price jumps to about $1,400US a ticket... what the hell is the deal?

Maybe I'll buy mine, then have my mother buy my fiances?

I contacted Rio de Janeiro today, and they informed me they had received my case. So less than a week from NVC confirming receipt, to Rio confirming receipt. They said they would be mailing my fiance her first packet this week.

Erik, read the info on the VJ link about the consulate in Rio. Your fiance could send out what they request in packet 3 before getting it - it'd save some time.

Thanks Mew, we planned on doing that, I just needed to confirm they received it before we did. Now that we know, we'll be sending in those papers this week.

Great! As soon as they get packet 3 from your fiance, they'll give you the interview date. Isn't that exciting?

Yeah it will certainly be great to finally get some concrete date as to when this nitemare will end.

I contacted Rio de Janeiro today, and they informed me they had received my case. So less than a week from NVC confirming receipt, to Rio confirming receipt. They said they would be mailing my fiance her first packet this week.

Erik, read the info on the VJ link about the consulate in Rio. Your fiance could send out what they request in packet 3 before getting it - it'd save some time.

Thanks Mew, we planned on doing that, I just needed to confirm they received it before we did. Now that we know, we'll be sending in those papers this week.

I contacted Rio de Janeiro today, and they informed me they had received my case. So less than a week from NVC confirming receipt, to Rio confirming receipt. They said they would be mailing my fiance her first packet this week.

Well my fiance is from Aquidauana, MS. which is a poor area in the Pantanal. I much like you, wanted to see how she grew up, and the challenges she faced there. So, I lived there with her and her family for a month (as much time as I could take off from work). It was certainly a humbling experience, and opened up entirely new perspectives in my life. So, it was certainly an experience I would not trade for the world.

That being said, I could never live in Aquidauana. Would I move to Brasil for my fiance? In a heart beat, but certainly not to Aquidauana. I don't know if I could get use to the idea of walking past Anaconda's, and Gators. That, and it is EXTREMELY hot there... good lord, almost killed this Gringo. If I had to move there, it would certainly be to a bigger city, Sao Paulo, Brasilia, Rio, or maybe even Campo Grande.

I researched work there quite a bit, and being completely fluent in Portuguese is really a must. I speak Portuguese, but no where's near enough to be able to land a decent job there, especially in my field (Software Engineering). You would def. have a better chance in a bigger, more diversified city than a small rural Brasilian town. In her town, even she struggles to find work, it is very scarce, and of course the pay is horrid.

It's noble that you want to experience life as your fiance has, I think it's important for people to see, understand and experience the culture of they're counter part. Just be careful, and think things completely through before you make a big decision like that (of course, I know you will ). I have known many who have tried to make it out there, only to struggle for years, before eventually moving back to the States (and by then, they struggle to get back because they are poor).

My fiances uncle said something to me that made perfect sense about working there, why would a company/place in Brasil hire a person from a different country, that doesn't speak the language fluently, when there are thousands of unemployed Brasilians looking for that same kind of work. Your Portuguese is probably better than mine, so maybe it's a little less relevant for you, but made perfect sense for me. Your best chance would be if you could find an American company abroad, willing to relocate you.

Best of luck, and def go enjoy the many beautiful things about Brasil.

Woah! That was fast! Congrats!

Take a look at this: http://www.visajourney.com/consulates/inde...0De%20Janereiro

It contains info on what to expect after the petition is sent to the consulate in Rio.

Great job Mew! One question though, why was your Dr. Appointment $300.00 American? It says it is not to exceed $100.00.

whoa, you guys have been waiting a LONG time!

Do they say anything when you call & check?

Wow, UK stuff moves fast devilette!!!

Our case arrived at NVC on Monday Aug 21. Hopefully it will be outta there next week!!!

I just called NVC (Aug 3rd NOA2). As known, they received my petition on Aug 21st, and the lady just told me that it was forwarded to the Embassy in Rio de Janeiro Aug 22nd. DHL doesn't show a package leaving for Rio on the 22nd, only the 25(today)... so I don't know.

Yup...me too, August 3rd NOA2 and still no receipt at NVC (checked this morning). I've read that it sometimes takes nearly a month for them to receive it and the NVC folks said it can take up to 90 days. I hope this is just a normal delay...don't want to speculate on alternatives!

Stay strong everyone...we'll get there.

You might want to call again. I just called at 6:15 Central time and she said they just entered the case a little while ago. Wow, that was so different from USCIS. She was so nice and helpful! It didn't hurt that she was Chinese

Woohoo! Now let's hope they get that thing outta there fast...

Yep, appears they just received the Aug 3rd batch, mine was entered today as well.

Quick question, I had a hard time understanding her (I think it was the same Chinese lady). Does your case number start with the letters RDJ? I couldn't understand when she was giving the 2nd letter.

Oh forget that, I just realized RDJ must stand for Rio de Janeiro... duh lol!