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PhotoJ89

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    July 2017 AOS Fillers

    in Adjustment of Status Case Filing and Progress Reports

    Posted · Edited by PhotoJ89

    How did you all interpret part 5 question 3 "How many times have you been married?" Terribly unclear wording of the question, in my opinion. Sounds like it's asking for PRIOR marriages. But I just checked the box saying I'm currently married, then I'm supposed to put "0" for how many times I've been married? I just got married. That doesn't count as having been married? Driving me nuts over thinking this one. 

    I-864 Signature on attachments?

    in Adjustment of Status (Green Card) from K1 and K3 Family Based Visas

    Posted · Edited by PhotoJ89

    May seem like a dumb question... Does anyone know if the instructions below apply to the standard attachments (birth certificate, ID, tax transcripts, proof of income, etc)? I would think these rules are only for extra WRITTEN pages, but it's really not clear. Normally I would err on the side of caution and sign/date all attachments, but it's possible you'd then get dinged for them wanting a "clean" copy. 

     

    "2. If you need extra space to complete any item within this affidavit, use the space provided in Part 11. Additional Information or attach a separate sheet of paper; type or print your name and Alien Registration Number (A-Number) (if any) at the top of each sheet; indicate the Page Number, Part Number, and Item Number to which your answer refers; and sign and date each sheet."

    Immunizations - DS3025 and I-693

    in Adjustment of Status (Green Card) from K1 and K3 Family Based Visas

    Posted

    2 minutes ago, Fr8dog said:

    Your form is marked as complete, requesting blanket waiver. It is good to use instead of the I-693.

    Thanks for the reply. It's nice to have that checked, but it looks like it's up to the adjudicator to actually check to see if the form was correctly filled and not just blindly look at the summary section. I'm not seeing many recent data points on this specific issue either. 

     

    "The unknown with this new form is--will every adjudicator across the US know how to interpret the summary section? Their policy manual says:

    "The officer should be aware that civil surgeons may improperly mark the boxes because they may misunderstand the meaning of these boxes. Therefore, the officer should determine, from the vaccination assessment completed by the civil surgeon, whether the applicant received all vaccines, which blanket waivers should be granted, and whether the applicant requires any other waivers. The officer should exercise discretion in reviewing the vaccination chart and when evaluating the results boxes at the bottom of the vaccination assessment chart. If the civil surgeon did not check any result boxes, the officer should only return the form for corrective action if he or she is unable to ascertain whether the applicant is admissible. "

    While this is not directly addressing the new form that has a "Summary" instead of a "Results" section, I believe the intent is that the adjudicator should look and see if the four required shots (or waivers) are present and accept the form even if the doctor doesn't do the summary to their liking. No guarantees, but I would certainly use the DS-3025 if I knew I had all the required shots."

    Immunizations - DS3025 and I-693

    in Adjustment of Status (Green Card) from K1 and K3 Family Based Visas

    Posted

    Hi all,

     

    Not sure why the pinned thread on this topic is locked. My fiancee's DS3025 contains a few possible issues that I don't think were answered by that thread.

     

    1) Contains one date for "MMR" and separate dates for Measles and Rubella. No waiver code. Does this count as having two doses of MMR?

    2) Contains one date for Varicella and a waiver code B. Is the second Varicella dose needed for AOS? I know It's always stated that you only need one of a series, but this always seems to be referring to the other shots which require a series and Varicella is dealt with separately (possibly due to the relatively short time interval between doses)?

     

    Attached is a copy of her DS3025. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

    DS3025 copy.jpg

    Brazil - K1 interview - Petitioner needs to be present?

    in US Embassy and Consulate Discussion

    Posted

    1 minute ago, mkm1993 said:

    I appreciate that... luckily my girlfriend has a sister in Rio and I guess we will be staying there. We've debated wether or not I should come after it's already issued to her or for me to be there for the interview... I can have as much time off as I need but financially I can only probably do 2 weeks maybe 2 1/2. So you are saying you went to pick your soon to be wife up after she had already gone home and received her visa by mail? The only thing that concerns me about going to the interview and staying at her sisters or a hotel to wait for the visa to pick up is the fact that it would end up taking a longer amount of time. Go ahead and gamble and stay or just wait till she has it and is already home is the question I've been pondering lol. Thanks for your input and congrats on your future with your wife. My fiancé is from Salvador. 

    Nice! Salvador is really interesting, it was the first place I visited in Brazil. My fiancee is from Maceio. 

     

    Well, everything at this point becomes a complex cost-benefit analysis. You have to figure out how much these different options mean to your fiancee. Figure out what's most important to her and make it happen if possible within reason. Also it's up to you to explain the factors on your side (time, money, work, etc.). It felt like every decision that was made towards the end was complex and difficult with one of us giving up something either way. I've found it's difficult to communicate well when we were in different countries, especially with the time difference.

     

    Congrats to you too. The real fun is just about to start...

    Brazil - K1 interview - Petitioner needs to be present?

    in US Embassy and Consulate Discussion

    Posted

    1 minute ago, mkm1993 said:

    I don't understand why you wouldn't be able to do both... If you go to the interview you will have to be in Rio already... just wait for a couple of days afterwards so that you could pick up the visa instead of waiting for it to come in the mail to her house a week or 2 later. I may be wrong on this but you should be able to do this. My fiancé is in Brazil also. We are waiting for NVC to receive. I plan to be there for her interview... we will wait in Rio until she gets her visa so that we can pick it up there. I read that you can do that. I'll be staying 2 weeks most likely. How long do you have off from work? This plays a significant factor into all of this. 

    Hey there. I ended up just going to "pick her up". I did not go to the interview, but everything went smoothly. She received her passport with the visa in it 6 business days after the interview. She fiancee lives 3 hours by air from Rio, so she stayed there for the medical the week before, through the interview. Each extra night there was another night away from home/hotel costs, so she just wanted to get home and have the passport sent to her.

     

    We just arrived back to my home in California yesterday. Point of entry was in Houston, it only took 10-15 minutes longer than "normal" immigration at the airport, but this was at 5 am and there were only a few other arriving flights at the time - we basically arrived right when immigration opened, so YMMV at different airports/times. Logistically it's actually quite difficult to get down there (without much notice, and in a fairly short time frame of dates) and return on the same flights without paying an obscene amount, at least for our cities involved. Best of luck to you. Let me know if you have any other questions. 

    January 2017 I-129F Filers

    in K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress Reports

    Posted · Edited by PhotoJ89

    Just wanted to chime in since I haven't visited this thread in a while. Our K1 interview is scheduled for this upcoming Tuesday in Rio de Janeiro. I am super nervous and excited, it's starting to get very real. If everything goes well at the interview, it will be just over 5 months from initial filing of I-129F to POE... not too bad considering the horrendous wait times for NOA2. Good luck everyone!

    Do I need to get any more vaccines for AOS?

    in Adjustment of Status (Green Card) from K1 and K3 Family Based Visas

    Posted

    On 7/25/2012 at 3:25 PM, dukeandduchess said:

    Pertussis is listed in the requirements for immigrant visas. I was required to have TDap for my medical exam. Not TD, but TDap.

    http://travel.state.gov/visa/immigrants/info/info_1331.html

    https://www.securewebexchange.com/wokingmedical.com/Vaccinations.html

    I know K1 is technically not an immigrant visa, but you do need these for AOS.

    My DS-3025 had "Insufficient Time Interval" for my Varicella vaccination (I had only 1 shot of a 2 shot series). When I applied for AOS I sent the DS-3025 and an original copy of my immunization record which showed I received my second shot after my medical. Not sure if I will get an RFE to go get it transcribed, but VJ members recommended doing this over paying for an *expensive* transcription of my vaccinations by a civil surgeon.

    I think the "Insufficient Time Interval" means you haven't waited the 10 years so they can't give you TDap. I would try to see if you can get a Pertussis vaccination on its own (not sure if it's possible) and then send proof of the Pertussis along with the DS-3025.

    Edit: That said, I'm not sure how other countries do it - but worst case scenario you'd get an RFE and have to get the vaccination transcribed by the civil surgeon. I'm just going off my own experience from what I was told at my medical/what I needed for my medical in Canada. May not be the same for other countries I guess.

    I know this was years ago, but did you end up getting an RFE for this? I'm in the exact same situation and trying to figure out what to do. 

    Immunizations - help needed

    in Adjustment of Status (Green Card) from K1 and K3 Family Based Visas

    Posted · Edited by PhotoJ89

    I've spent the last 6 hours doing research and I can't find and an answer to this:

     

    Varicella. It's my understanding that it's a series of 2 shots, with the second one coming at least 4 weeks after the first. In the stickied post below, it's not clear how this is handled on the DS-3025. Do you need to have both shots completed at the time of the medical, in order to have a "complete" form? Or, if you've only had 1 of the 2, will they give you an "insufficient time interval" code B waiver, similar to MMR? Interesting it's stated below that "2 are required" for MMR, but this is not stated for Varicella. It was my understanding that 2 are required. 

     

    My fiancée had her first Varicella shot on May 10, administered by a "regular" doctor. Her medical exam appointment is June 1, less than 4 weeks away. We are trying to decide if we should cancel all travel plans, reschedule the interview and medical, etc. in order to have both Varicella shots completed at the time of the medical, so we don't have to see a civil surgeon when she gets to the US/applies for AOS. 

     

    Any help would be greatly appreciated. 

     

    Quote

    This is a revision of my post that is often quoted as good information on the I-693 and DS-3025 question. The DS-3025 form has changed, so this update matches the new form that looks like this http://photos.state.gov/libraries/thailand/591452/iv/ds3025.pdf

    If your DS-3025 from your visa medical is sufficient to prove you have completed all required immunizations, then use it instead of seeing a Civil Surgeon. Read all this for information I have compiled.

    Do I need a medical exam?

    What if I am a K nonimmigrant visa holder and already had a medical exam overseas?

    Source: I-693 instructions page 6 &7, Part 3 FAQ, #3

    If you were admitted as a:

    A. K-1 fiancé(e) or a K-2 child of a K-1 fiancé(e); or

    B. K-3 spouse of a U.S. citizen or a K-4 child of a K-3 spouse of a U.S. citizen; and

    C. You received a medical examination prior to admission, then:

    1) You are not required to have another medical examination as long as you file your Form I-485 within one year of an overseas medical examination, and:

    (a) The panel physician did not find a class A medical condition during your overseas examination; or

    (b) The panel physician did find a class A medical condition, you received a waiver of inadmissibility, and you have complied with the terms and conditions of the waiver.

    (2) Even if a new medical examination is not required, you must still show proof that you complied with the vaccination requirements. If the vaccination record (DS 3025) was not properly completed and included as part of the original overseas medical examination report, you will have to have the Part 7. Vaccination Record completed by a designated civil surgeon. In this case, you must submit Parts 1., 2., 4., and 7. of Form I-693.

    Do you need an I-693 immunization sheet? Is my DS-3025 filled out properly?

    Look at your DS-3025. If it has the ALL of the following items, you don't need an I-693 (Adults 19-49 yrs old).

    1. Shots marked with a date (at least one of a series)

    • MMR (two are required but if you have "insufficient time interval" Code B in the last column, then you get a waiver)
    • Td or Tdap or DT or DTP or DtaP (One date must be no longer than 10 years ago)
    • Varicella (Either a check by "Vaccine" with a date, OR a check by "Varicella History" if you had chickenpox. History gets you a waiver)
    • Influenza (during flu season)** see note below because you may be okay without it. If it is not flu season, the waiver in the last column is Code F.
    • Everything else marked "not age appropriate" Code A, insufficient time interval B, not flu season F, contraindicated C...things that allow a waiver.

    NOTE: If you have shots missing and no waiver for them, stop here and see a Civil Surgeon. "Most of the shots" isn't complete. A note from your home country doctor won't count. All shots must be recorded on the DS-3025 or waived. You will have to take your doctor note to a Civil Surgeon and get him to record it on an official form.

    2. The new form has a summary section. It may be marked:

    "US vaccination requirements COMPLETE (Requesting a Blanket Waiver)"

    But instructions I have seen says it is only marked for immigrant visas. I know In London they leave section 2 unmarked at K1 medicals.

    3. Signed and dated by the doctor

    The unknown with this new form is--will every adjudicator across the US know how to interpret the summary section? Their policy manual says:

    "The officer should be aware that civil surgeons may improperly mark the boxes because they may misunderstand the meaning of these boxes. Therefore, the officer should determine, from the vaccination assessment completed by the civil surgeon, whether the applicant received all vaccines, which blanket waivers should be granted, and whether the applicant requires any other waivers. The officer should exercise discretion in reviewing the vaccination chart and when evaluating the results boxes at the bottom of the vaccination assessment chart. If the civil surgeon did not check any result boxes, the officer should only return the form for corrective action if he or she is unable to ascertain whether the applicant is admissible. "

    While this is not directly addressing the new form that has a "Summary" instead of a "Results" section, I believe the intent is that the adjudicator should look and see if the four required shots (or waivers) are present and accept the form even if the doctor doesn't do the summary to their liking. No guarantees, but I would certainly use the DS-3025 if I knew I had all the required shots.

    **Note on flu shot: Flu shots are required for adults of all ages if your visa exam was between (Oct 1 and March 31). But if the AOS adjudicator picks up your case when it is not flu season, you will be excused. And the reverse is true. The adjudicator picks up your case during flu season, but sees it was NOT flu season when you had your medical exam, you are also excused because the date they go by is the date of your visa exam to determine if you were current on that date. Keep in mind that if you go to a civil surgeon for an I-693, then you are resetting the medical exam date for immunizations and you may have to get second doses of shots or a flu shot to become current on your new immunization date of record.

    See next post for more information.

      20

     

    DS-160 Problems - saving information

    in K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures

    Posted

    Is anyone else having trouble with the "save" functions of the DS-160? There seems to be one section in particular that flat out will not save - I've tried everything I can think of and the thing will not save the following:

     

    Family -> Fiancé -> Fiancé Address -> State/Province and Postal/ZIP code.

     

    All other sections save fine, also the street address and city in the specific section above save fine, just not the state and zip code. It's really strange and highly annoying as we were planning on submitting today.

    Brazil - Interview attendance

    in Mexico, Latin & South America

    Posted

    Hi all,

     

    I'm hoping some recent interviewees from Brazil can help answer this. 

     

    Our K1 interview (i'm the US petitioner, fiancée is Brazilian) should be coming up in the next month or 2. My fiancée's mom REALLY wants to see us leaving together, when she finally leaves her home to come to the US for good. Problem is I can't take 2 separate trips to do both this and be present at the interview in such a short time. Basically I have to choose one - go to the interview with her, or respect her mother's wishes. It's a gut-wrenching decision to try to make, we've talked about it quite a bit and can't come up with a good decision. 

     

    I read some threads back in 2013 that the Rio consulate, without warning, was randomly rejecting beneficiaries at the interview if the petitioner was not present. Has this happened recently? Has anyone here recently done the interview without the fiancé/e present? I'd just like to hear some opinions on this.

     

    Thanks

    Brazil - K1 interview - Petitioner needs to be present?

    in US Embassy and Consulate Discussion

    Posted · Edited by PhotoJ89

    Hi all,

     

    I'm hoping some recent interviewees from Brazil can help answer this. 

     

    Our K1 interview (i'm the US petitioner, fiancée is Brazilian) should be coming up in the next month or 2. My fiancée's mom REALLY wants to see us leaving together, when she finally leaves her home to come to the US for good. Problem is I can't take 2 separate trips to do both this and be present at the interview in such a short time. Basically I have to choose one - go to the interview with her, or respect her mother's wishes. It's a gut-wrenching decision to try to make, we've talked about it quite a bit and can't come up with a good decision. 

     

    I read some threads back in 2013 that the Rio consulate, without warning, was randomly rejecting beneficiaries at the interview if the petitioner was not present. Has this happened recently? Has anyone here recently done the interview without the fiancé/e present? I'd just like to hear some opinions on this.

     

    Thanks

    SOME QUESTIONS (BRAZIL)(After NOA2)

    in Mexico, Latin & South America

    Posted

    6 hours ago, p-ana said:

     

    Then us citizen partner will receive an email from Rio consulate with the instructions to schedule the interview and medical.

    While you wait, you both can go ahead and start organizing the paperwork for the interview. The list of docs needed can be found at the consulates website.

    There won't be any doctors in her area, so she can start planning on where to go, can also go and check if her vaccinations are up to date so she saves money on her medical, etc

    Thanks @p-ana 

     

    We are mainly concerned with the following items...

     

    1. Scheduling the medical. We were planning on her scheduling a medical on a Thursday, 5 days before the Tuesday interview. Is this enough time for the Doctor in Rio to send the test results to the Consulate? Or is it possible to get the results more quickly? Since she has to get on an airplane to get to Rio, it would be best if we could do the medical and the interview in one trip. Do you have any more information or ideas on this?

     

    2. Scheduling her departure from Brazil. I would like to attend the Interview, as well as leave the country with her. Do you think this is possible to do in 2 weeks or less? Due to my job, I can't take more than a couple weeks off. I've read that you have the option of picking up the passport (containing approved K-1 visa) in Rio instead of being mailed to the beneficiary's residence. Does anyone know the average number of business days from Interview to passport ready for pickup?

     

    Thank you

     

     

    December 2016 Filers (merged)

    in K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress Reports

    Posted

    Hi all,

     

    Popping over from the January filers thread. I have a question for those already approved. Is it normal for the case status to show as "approved" on the USCIS website, without receiving email/text notification? 

     

    I'm a little hesitant to believe the approval notice on the website, because it still showed as "received" at 7pm last night, and then showed as "approved" just after midnight, pacific time. Still shows as approved right now. Just makes me wonder, as they stated they were doing system maintenance on the website from 9pm to midnight eastern last night. Just a little paranoid this might be a website bug or data entry error. So, is it normal to show approved on the website and not receive other notifications (even though I signed up for them)?

     

    Thanks, and really hope those of you still waiting are approved ASAP. My received date is Jan. 4, so don't be too mad at me...

    January 2017 I-129F Filers

    in K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress Reports

    Posted

    9 minutes ago, SkruDe said:

    According to your timeline, your NOA1 was dated 1-12-17.  So tomorrow would actually be day 91 between NOA1 and NOA2.  And right now, according to the historical k1 charts, the "average" time is 94 days between NOA1 and NOA2.

    You're right. I keep getting confused on which dates to go by. Shows up in the scans as 1-4-17, and it's actually been in their system for 99 days now, so that's the number stuck in my head. 

    75 days after noa1

    in K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures

    Posted

    8 minutes ago, amine93 said:

    Have anybody had to wait 70-80 days for their Noa2? 

    We had 75 days n we still waiting for Noa 2 what we should do please help thank you 

    There are some folks sitting at 120+ days. A bunch more at 100+. Today is day 97 for me, and my patience is wearing thin. You would be very lucky to hear in the next week or 2. You should expect around another month. 

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