SJ & J

3 minutes ago, Seth And Quynh said:

about April 18th to July 26th takes a while for the nvc because they have to allow 11 weeks to process documents

So after you mailed in all of your forms to NVC is took nearly 3 months?

Congratulations!!!  How long did it take at NVC?  We are coming up on 5 weeks since they received all of the paperwork (AOS and IV). 

1 hour ago, mimolicious said:

You can't expedite based on a disaster that has yet to happen.

That is what I was wondering. I didn't know if it was even possible and I didn't know if it was after a natural disaster has already happened.

 

22 minutes ago, Boiler said:

And nothing takes a week.

I figured there was no possible way to make it happen in a week but I guess one may never know.

 

So I guess I will just pray that Irma does not cause to much damage in Haiti and that my husband and everyone in Irma's path stays safe!  I will just be here worrying until Irma goes away.

Hello again VJers!

 

Thank you all for your endless knowledge and expertise.  So here I am again...slightly freaking out thanks to Hurricane Irma!!  It is forecast to hit Haiti this week according to what I am reading (not necessarily the eye but heavy rain/winds).  I feel like I read somewhere that a case can be expedited due to natural disaster.  We are 2 weeks into the NVC process and I am wondering:

1) Does the natural disaster have to have already happened?

2) If not is there even a way to get him here this week?

3) Am I just imagining this all and losing my mind?  

 

Does anyone have any helpful knowledge about this and if it's even possible who do I call and what to I say? (I am the worlds worst googler...I don't know how to ask google so they understand what I am trying to figure out).

 

 

I used www.besttranslationservices.com I found it to be the least expensive. 

Hello everyone~

 

I called NVC today and got my case number and also received the email.  When I called NVC the gentleman was very pleasant and he asked me if I was going to be the agent and I said yes so he took my address, email and phone number.  He stated that I would still need to fill out the DS 261 online but he entered it so the fee could be generated faster.  When I log onto the NVC page it goes straight to fees and the 'choose an agent' option is grayed out.  I have the option to pay both fees as they are both there and have the box to pay them.  So I am a little confused if I should just pay both fees or wait.  In the instructions it says to wait a week after filling out the choose an agent before paying the fees.  Does anyone have any experience with this?  Thank you for taking the time to read and respond.  

 

Thank you for your information! I was trying to figure out how to attach the websites from my phone to show you but I'm not very tech. I think I'll  just go with the photocopies unless they request otherwise. Thank you again for your help.

13 minutes ago, EG&XY said:

Why do you think that it is not true? The instructions that they provide (https://travel.state.gov/content/visas/en/immigrate/immigrant-process/documents/Supporting_documents.html) clearly state to provide photocopies of everything and bring the originals to the interview (for some some documents it may also be required to bring another copy to the interview). The only document that would be sent as an original is the i-864 (aos) from the petitioner.

 

Where the discussion of "certified" copies is that the original that you bring to the interview must be either the actual original birth certificate or a certified copy (which is recognized as an actual official copy). You can't provide a photocopy as the only version at the interview in place of an original or certified copy. Certified copies come up because for some documents the original document does not leave the possession of the government agency that maintains it.

 

For example, my original birth certificate resides in a government office somewhere. I can not get that document and take it somewhere, it always remains under the possession of the government office. Instead they can issue a certified copy of the original document. This means that they are certifying that it is an exact copy of the original document. I can then maintain this certified copy in my possession and use it in place of the original document. In this example, I would make a photocopy to send to the NVC and then take the certified copy with me to the interview.

Why I thought that maybe it wasn't true? Bc the first list I found on VJ awhile back said photocopies but then now that my petition was approved I searched it again and evidently found a different list which said original/certified copy, so the I freaked out a little :). So then I tried finding more information and found the stupid RYE thread which confused me more. But if photocopies worked at the NVC stage then that's awesome bc I already have those ready to go. But he will need originals/or certified copies for interview in Haiti? Do they get returned to him there?

Thank you for your help!

Hello everyone!

I desperately need someones help regarding the birth certificate, marriage certificate and police report.  I though that sending copies of each along with the translations and certification of the translation was good for the NVC IV process but now I'm thinking that is not true.  It seems like I need to send the original or a certified copy.  So does that mean that I need to have my husband in Haiti pay for a judge to write up another copy of each of them to send to NVC?  I won't send the original bc it does not get returned and I need it for other things.  I would love to hear from people regarding what they sent also if anyone's petition was approved with just copies versus having to have new ones made and sent to me somehow.  Please anyone with information on this please let me know.  Thank you so much!!

 

2 hours ago, Ryan H said:

***Moved from Progress Reports to Process & Procedures***

 

**Moderator hat off**

 

Answers:

1. No
2. Yes
3. Correct

Thank you! I had the marriage certificate certified and notarized but do the birth certificate, police clearance letter, and such...do they need to be certified as well or just translated? Thank you again.

 

Hello everyone! I have a few questions.

1) we got married in Haiti and I have the certified copy of the marriage license.  Do I need to file that somewhere in my state (MN)? 

2) For documents in French do they all need to be translated? (Long story short, we filed k1 and it was approved but due to unfortunate circumstances we could not marry then....anyways I did not translate anything)

3) and just triple checking...the birth certificate of the beneficiary does not need to be sent with the I-130, correct?

 

Thank you all!!

16 hours ago, MrsMcFarlane said:

If you're filing for a spouse, your first payment will be when you send in your petition which is $535...after that, you'll be waiting some months until they approve it. Once approved, they'll send your case to the NVC, and from there you'll have to pay more fees for your AOS. Then, your spouse will have to take a medical (cost varies by country). It adds up but the payments are spread out thankfully! I just filed for my husband who is in Jamaica. Being that your spouse is from Haiti, I would request an expedited petition being that Haiti has fallen victim to those hurricanes lately. It doesn't hurt to try! Good luck on your journey and you can message me at anytime if you have any questions! Much love!

Thank You for your information!  I know that processing times vary widely case to case, but do you have any idea on the average length of time from filing to receiving the visa? 

So there are two Immigration Visa fees?  One for $325 and one for $225?  Thanks for you information!

15 hours ago, dwheels76 said:

 

What are you filing for a K1 or CR1/IR1. The $1200 you are probably looking at Adjustment of status for K1 folk. If filing for spouse CR1/IR1.

 

USCIS (I-130 Petition) = $535

Once you are approved then

 

NVC fees are:

AOS (Affidavit of Support) fee =  $120

IV (Immigration Visa) fee = $325

 

Once approved at Embassy and you receive your Visa, then there's a Immigration Visa fee (or as we call the Green Card production fee) = $225

 

Read the http://www.visajourney.com/wiki/index.php/NVC_Process to learn all about the NVC process This way you know all things you need to know up to the embassy interview.

 

Thank you! So I assume after the initial payment...they will tell you how much and where to send it?

Hello~

I am so confused on the fee to file the CR-1 visa.  I've read a few different things on the government site and others.  It seems like to file the I-130 portion you send in $565 (or something like that).  And then as time goes on there are other fees to pay along the way, but somewhere else I read that you pay the full payment fees all at one time (around $1200). 

 

Also anyone on here get married in Haiti recently?  What is the cost for the marriage license and how long does it take to get before you can be married?  How long before getting the certified copy? 

 

Thank you in advance for all of your help.

 

I got married in Haiti in September of this year in a Port-au-prince courthouse.

My fiancee scheduled an appointment for the marriage with the courthouse. This particularly courthouse charged 1500 Haitian dollars or roughly $115 US at that time. I would advise that you or your fiancee not to mention that you are coming from the US to get married in Haiti because the cost can double or be even more. Many places in Haiti seem to like to take advantage of the diaspora.

On the day I was to get married, they started the paperwork process. For identification, they asked for my passport. The passport number is actually is what is on the marriage certificate (Acte de Mariage). The court also informed us that we would have to buy the marriage certificate form and bring it back to them so that they can fill it out. The officials fill out the marriage certificate by hand and so it could be difficult to read the handwritings. There is also a second page for the marriage certificate which has a number on the back of it.

After you get the marriage certificate, you have to go to the Archives National d'Haiti inorder to get what's called Attestation Mariage. That took us about a week to get. I had my wife take care of that since I had to return to the US. Once everything was received, my wife scanned everything to me, including the original color of the documents.

Since the documents are in French, they have to be translated to English. Whatever company or person you use has to certify that the translation is correct and accurate. You need the marriage certificate, the attestation and the translations sent with the I-130.

Just one more bit of advice. You have to be patient and polite while doing this process in Haiti as they tend to take their time and do things at the last moment. Do not yell or get upset with anyone or the time to get your documents could be even longer.

That sounds so confusing but I am sure once we get going in will make more sense. Is there anything my fiancé can do to start the process before I get there or do both of us have to be present? We are planning to get married on a beach, not the courthouse, do you think that makes a difference?

Yes, it is possible to be approved for a CR-1 after an abandoned K-1. it happens. For whatever reason people don't get married or have to leave the country before the AOS is completed and then their only option is to get married and file for a spousal visa.

I can't help with the marriage licence question. You might want to ask in the Caribbean sub-forum.

Thank you for your response. I am hopeful that we will still be approved with little issues if I am able to explain the situation.

Hello,

I got married in Haiti, I don't think you need to be there for 15 days, Depending on where you get married you just have to take the blood test and then wait 3 business days for the marriage license, then you you'll need to wait for the national license, pending on who submit it for you, will depend on how fast you get it.

Buttaflyzoe~

Thank you for your information. So really it should only take 3-5 business days to get the license and then we could get married after we have the license? After they send it somewhere to get certified or something? Which technically I could have my fiance then mail it to me DHL if it didn't come before I had to return to the sates?

Thanks again

I'm prepared for it to have a negative effect on the process since it was past the 90 days but I'm hoping for the best and was hoping possibly someone had a similar situation and had some insight.

Yes, it is possible to be approved for a CR-1 after an abandoned K-1. it happens. For whatever reason people don't get married or have to leave the country before the AOS is completed and then their only option is to get married and file for a spousal visa.

I can't help with the marriage licence question. You might want to ask in the Caribbean sub-forum.

Thank you

Hello everyone~

My fiance was here on a K1 visa from Haiti and because of some personal things on my end we were unable to get married {and I am heart broken} but we are still planning to marry in Haiti now and going with the Cr 1 visa, which I know is going to be a lot of hard work and lots of time/money.

My questions for you are:

* Is it possible to get a CR1 visa approved after not going through with the K1 visa? (our k1 visa was approved with no difficulties and everything is the same except my fiance overstayed the 90 days by 3 days).

* Also if there is anyone who has married in Haiti and did not live there...do you know the process of obtaining a marriage license? From what I have read it seems that I would have to be in the country for at least 15 days for the marriage license process, just wondering if anyone has any information regarding that?

Thank you as always

My hubby did not live in port-au-prince either, he had to travel there to get it done. There was a list of doctors attached in Packet 3 I believe, we call them and asked when he could come in (the one he went too only did those exams in tuesdays and thursday) and he had to go back a week after to get his xray done because they couldn't do it the same day (the technician had left) There is a list on VJ on the consulate info page of a few doctors, He can try to call them. http://www.visajourney.com/consulates/index.php?ctry=Haiti&cty=Port-au-Prince

Also, you should see on NVC site when your package reaches the consulate, they update it from : At NVC- In Transit (when it is sent) and Ready for interview I beleive. As soon as you see that status, you or him can email the consulate to request Package 3 (which is just a list of instructions) at on of those emails: papcons@state.gov; acspap@state.gov, support-Haiti@ustraveldocs.com

To reach them I contacted the UStraveldocs number and I was able to speak to someone on several occasions. It is a US number so it was easier for me to call.

Good luck you guys are almost at the finish line

Thank you! This definitely is quite the process. My fiancé has been trying to get a hold of the doctors but gets no answer. I will check out the NVC website to see if I can figure out if it has reached the consulate.

Hi

personally I would not want to set up the medical first, because it has to be within 30 days or less of the interview. For Port-au-prince my hubby did not have to get an appointment, it was a walked in, however some have specific days they do medicals, I would call to inquire first. My hubby's case was stuck at NVC for 25 days in AP, I called them every single day, sometimes twice a day until they send it. We filled the DS-160 before the case got to the embassy as well, so when it got there all we had to do is pay and set up interview. Good luck

Where did your hubby do his medical? My fiancé has been trying to call the doctor but is getting no answer. He doesn't live in PAP so he has to travel in and doesn't want to waste a trip if they wont do it without an appointment.

Also how do you know when the embassy has received the packet, he tried to call but can't get a hold of anyone.

Thank you!!

Thank you! Do you know anything regarding doing the medical before having the packet or the interview set up?

Hello again everyone!

Thank you all for your help through this very stressful and confusing journey. I am stuck again. NVC received our packet on June 9th and as of June 23rd had not mailed it out to the Embassy yet but I did receive the case number and the invoice numbers from NVC.

* I have filled out the DS-160 but it asks for the receipt number...What number exactly is that? The receipt number from the NOA2 or one of the numbers from NVC?

*Can my fiancé schedule and do his medical before the embassy receives the paperwork and obviously before an interview is set up?

I'm just afraid it is going to get dragged out and the NOA2 will expire, we have until September but I worry

Thank you for your help once again.

(Sorry I don't know how to attach my timeline....also sorry if it says that my case is at Texas bc it wasn't changing it even after I tried)