smithie05

Hi smithie,

I wonder the same thing. I think that it´s probably the same order that the K1´s and K3´s have, although we don´t have to turn in half of what they have.

Just so you know I created a thread on the Latin America forum for CR1/IR1 from Brazil, so we can help each other. I find it really difficult to relate to all the K1 and K3 because our case is quite different from theirs. My case was just sent by the NVC to the consulate. How´s your situation? Have you received anything from the consulate already? Please let me know. And let´s keep in touch.

Alix

Que bom fazer contato com voce, Alix! I know having all the documents in order isn't a MAJOR issue, but I do know that my husband will be nervous on the interview day and I don't want him to enfartar waiting for four hours because of paperwork. If only the consulate had clear, current information on its website! . . . maybe we should start a letter-writing campaign to the consulate general. ; )

My husband just received his interview date today, which is in mid-November. He said the packet that arrived is mostly in English, which is pretty frustrating. Why do they assume that all applicants for immigrant visas are fluent in spoken and written English? Regardless of what level of English the applicant speaks, nearly all Brazilian applicants are going to be most comfortable and confident reading important information and instructions in their native language. I can't wait for this to end!!!

I hope you receive your interview date soon! Hopefully it will be in November as well. Our case was actually sent to the consulate on September 7th, but the packet with the interview date didn't arrive until September 30th. So, if my experience is typical, you can expect a wait of around three weeks.

Let me know if you have any thoughts on where to get cheap plane tickets originating in Rio . . .

I know that while interviews at the consulate in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, are scheduled for 8 am the actual time of interview depends upon how quickly you turn in your documentation based on the specific order of documents they request.

Does anyone know the order? A list from any consulate would be great!! I've seen lists for K-1s and K-3s, but I really need to know the order of documents for the IMMIGRANT visas: CR-1 or IR-1.

I would very much appreciate your help!

Thank you!

Ok, so we don't need to fill out the DS-2001. But what exactly is in which packet and where does it come from? NVC and/or Rio Consulate? I have everything together that NVC will need. I-864, DS230, and all the documents they want proof of etc..I know i can email NVC for choice of agent, so after all that...will I get anything else from the NVC? And then once my junk is mailed to the Rio Consulate, what happens there? I'm blinded from this point on. What does the Consulate mail me or my husband? What will I need to send them? Ok, thanks for you help.

Well, our CR-1 case has already been received by the consulate in Rio, as of Friday. While it was at the NVC, we mailed in the I-864, the DS-230 (part I only) and the fee bill. I e-mailed the consulate and they said that the I-864 will not be requested again. This leads me to believe that all my husband is going to need to take to his interview is the police certificates, medical exam results, and all of the originals + copies of documents like birth certificates, marriage certificate, etc. Probably DS-230 Part II as well, I would imagine (the part he has to sign in front of the consular official, in order to swear he hasn't committed any terroristic acts, genocide, kidnapping, attempt to overthrow his government, etc. ). Since nobody who has gone through an IR or CR visa at the Rio consulate has come forward, I'll make sure to post exactly what was needed as soon as I find out. This should all be going straight to the beneficiary in Brazil. As soon as the petition is transferred to the consulate, the petitioner doesn't have anything else sent to her/him.

I think the packet for the interview is going to be the simplest one yet! I hope so. Gracas a deus que vem junto com a data da entrevista!!!!!!!!! I don't think I could stand having to return yet another packet before finding out that date - the day that marks the end of this craziness and saudades loucas!

So in other words, if nobody else gets back to us soon, you can just wait for my post.

One more thing - did you happen to notice on the Consulate website that as of September 15th, 2006, they are accepting requests for EARLIER interview dates for nonimmigrant visas? Apparently applicants for immigrant visas still have to suck it up and go on the designated day . . . but this does give me hope that maybe we could e-mail the consulate and might have some wiggle room for getting an earlier date. : )

Good luck with everything!

Could anyone out there give me the list (in order) of documents that my husband will need for his CR-1 interview in Rio de Janeiro? I would like to know exactly what this specific consulate requires.

They have told me twice (via e-mail) that they will not ask for the I-864 (Affidavit of Support) again. If anyone could confirm this through personal experience I would feel much better.

Muito obrigada pela ajuda!

-Smithie

Could anyone out there give me the list (in order) of documents that my husband will need for his CR-1 interview in Rio de Janeiro? I would like to know exactly what this specific consulate requires.

They have told me twice (via e-mail) that they will not ask for the I-864 (Affidavit of Support) again. If anyone could confirm this through personal experience I would feel much better.

Muito obrigada pela ajuda!

-Smithie

I recently e-mailed the consulate in Rio de Janeiro to find out if my husband will need to bring a copy of our Affidavit of Support (including W-2s, letter of employment, etc) to his CR-1 interview. They said "if it has already been requested of you, it will not be requested again."

I just got a letter from the NVC saying that our petition has been forwarded to the consulate, and that we should be SURE to bring a copy of the I-864 to the interview including all current information.

I'm guessing that the e-mail from the consulate is what I should trust.

Has anybody done an immigrant visa interview at the Rio Consulate? I would really appreciate knowing if I have to send this chunky copy of our I-864 packet to my husband or not.

Muito obrigada,

Smithie

Hi everyone,

I am having a hard time finding detailed information on exactly what happens after our CR-1 case is transferred from the NVC to the consulate in Rio de Janeiro.

What is the first packet of info my husband will receive? Will he get his interview date in the mail?

I also would like to know the order of documents for the CR-1 interview. If anyone out there has done a CR-1 from Rio, how long did it take before your interview?

I'm sure these questions have been asked many times before, I just can't find the answers in the forum.

I'd really appreciate your help and any shortcuts you might know of.

Thank you!!

We're waiting for our IV fee payment to be processed (it's taking forever!) and trying to prepare the DS-230.

The US Consulate in Rio de Janeiro has an instruction packet on its website that asks us to send:

1. DS-230 parts I and II (part II unsigned)

2. Copy of Passport bio page

3. One 5x5 cm photo

4. DS-2001

The Dept of State's instructions only ask for:

1. DS-230 part I

2. Copy of Passport bio page

My husband is going to send the forms to me from Brazil. Should he send everything, just in case? Does anyone know what exactly the NVC wants, or have a link to the correct instruction packet (Instructions for Immigrant Visa Applicants)?

Is there ever a problem with the NVC if we send in extra, unnecessary forms?

Wait...hold up! You got your senator to help expedite your petition! Someone told me about that, and I posted a message here asking about it, and everyone said don't do it...that there wasn't really anything he/she could do for me....

What is your "special circumstance," your "humanitarian concern issue?" What about my emotional sanity/stability? Or that fact that I need my husband here, so he can get a job and help support me, while I'm desperately struggling through work and life...do those count? I'm freaking out of my mind here. I've spent just barely over a month, IN REAL LIFE ONLY, and not consecutive days, with my husband! I just want to be married now damn it! And living with him! I would do anything to convice my state senator to help me.... any recommendations? My 1st NOA started on June 3.... help.

I had also read many times in this forum that petitions could only be expedited in "life or death" situations. That's why I was stunned beyond belief when I received notice from my senator's office that the NVC had agreed to expedite my I-130. my thoughts to you is to TRY EVERYTHING, no matter what everybody says. I wrote personalized letters to each of my state senators and representatives. I got a response from every one of them, and some great advice from the immigration people who work in their offices. I never actually expected that our petition would be expedited -- I just needed so badly to feel that I was doing everything humanly possible to move our case along. If it didn't work, at least I'd know I tried my best. Sitting around waiting is mental and emotional torture.

Here's my situation: My husband lives in a very dangerous city, where death squads are not unusual (not exactly a gated community in Barra da Tijuca, if you get the picture). I emphasized this in a letter to my senator, citing recent examples of egregious violence (that had made international newspapers) occuring very close to my husband's neighborhood. I do fear for his life, and I tried my best to convey that in a heartfelt letter. At this point, we have been apart for four months and I worry about him more with every day that passes.

I wholeheartedly agree that visa processing should be fast for EVERYONE. Even if my husband lived in a condo in Ipanema, we'd still be undergoing the same horrible emotional strain, frustration, and general relationship hardships that everyone else is suffering.

Go to your senators' and representatives' websites, and download and sign the forms authorizing them to look into your case on your behalf. Send that with a letter (describing your situation, with details about your case (case #, names of petitioner and beneficiary, contact info, etc) to their offices in your state. If there is no form to download, the fastest way to contact them is by e-mail (or their contituent comment forms on their websites). They will send you the form to sign and return.

You can't go wrong. At the very least, you'll get some good advice and feel like you're taking positive action.

I wish you all the best!

Hi,

our case was also expedited and sent to the embassy without processing at NVC. We got packet 3 and now we are waiting for our interview date. I think it all depends on the consulate.

Good luck

Isabel

Did you talk to somebody at the embassy to expedite the process? I keep getting the feeling that visa processing in the US and visa processing at the consulates are totally separate and that there isn't much communication between the two locations after the visa petition is sent to the consulate.

Did you send the DS-230 to the consulate or to somewhere in the US?

Wait...hold up! You got your senator to help expedite your petition! Someone told me about that, and I posted a message here asking about it, and everyone said don't do it...that there wasn't really anything he/she could do for me....

What is your "special circumstance," your "humanitarian concern issue?" What about my emotional sanity/stability? Or that fact that I need my husband here, so he can get a job and help support me, while I'm desperately struggling through work and life...do those count? I'm freaking out of my mind here. I've spent just barely over a month, IN REAL LIFE ONLY, and not consecutive days, with my husband! I just want to be married now damn it! And living with him! I would do anything to convice my state senator to help me.... any recommendations? My 1st NOA started on June 3.... help.

Well, worth a try, no matter what people say. I also got that advice. But sometimes there are ways beyond the straight line though. My only two special circumstances are that my hubby is active duty and I wont have a flat anymore in one week. That is it. Oh ok..and no work since MidJuly. Since everyone suffers from seperation etc I dont know if they accept that as a reason. And as far as I know you can get your case expedited easier after it is approved. I dont know how that works if it isnt approved yet.

Greets Isabel

Did you talk to somebody at the embassy to expedite the process? I keep getting the feeling that visa processing in the US and visa processing at the consulates are totally separate and that there isn't much communication between the two locations after the visa petition is sent to the consulate.

Did you send the DS-230 to the consulate or to somewhere in the US?

How did you get your senator to expedite your I-130? I've been married for two years and I'd like to try anything I can think of........ Any help will be appreciated, thanks!!!

If your I130 and or I129F is expedited at the USCIS level, then what happens when it moves on to the NVC, the NBC, or the consulate? Do you then lose your "expedited" status, and the process slows to normal (which I call slow motion)? Do you have the senator send the same letter he originally sent to the USCIS to the NVC, NBC, or consulate? Does the "expedite" status remain with the application, or do you start the "expedite" process all over?

Anyone who's had their application expedited, can you tell me the answer to this? My applicxation was expedited but is now moving out of the USCIS and into the hands of the NVC, NBC, and then the consulate.

Thanks!!!!

My I-130 was expedited just as it arrived at the NVC (I requested expeditious processing right after I found out it was approved and being sent to the NVC). So far, I've been told to send all fees and forms to a special caseworker. I've sent the DS-3032 by e-mail (that is a great shortcut!) and both the AOS and visa bill to the NVC. I'm waiting for them to send the Affidavit of Support forms to me and the DS-230 to my husband. No word yet on what happens when my case is sent to the consulate. I would LOVE to know if the expeditious processing will continue there . . . but something tells me that "slow motion" is probably what's going to happen in reality. I'll just have to keep calling my senator, I guess! If I ever get any information out of the NVC operators concerning this, I'll post it here.

Hi everyone,

I have found so much great advice on this forum! Many thanks to all who have shared their experiences.

I originally applied for a K-3 visa for my husband (who is currently in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil), but the I-130 was approved much faster and sent to the NVC. By contacting one of my state senators -- miracle of miracles! -- I was able to have the visa expedited.

My husband has already returned the DS-3032. Now, the NVC has requested that we send both the AOS fee and the DS-230 fee directly to a special case manager at the NVC in NH. I did this by overnight mail and am waiting for them to mail me the Affidavit of Support form and to send the DS-230 to my husband.

My question is: Now what? When the case is transferred to the consulate in Rio, is it still going to be on any kind of "fast track" or does everything slow down from there on out? Since the NVC will have our DS-230 by the time the case gets to the consulate, shouldn't scheduling the interview be the next step? My husband already has all of the required documentation and evidence in order.

Is there anyone out there who has had an expedited visa experience? (ours is not a typical life or death situation, but more of a humanitarian concern issue).

I would be very grateful for any ideas about what to expect one the case is transferred -- both time-wise and paperwork-wise. : )

Thank you!!!