Gina & Johann

I was so overwhlemed when we started filling out the AOS papers, but its not as difficult at it feels when you first start to look at everything.

The medical done for the K-1 visa is good for one year. If the medical is less than one year, you do not have to submit a new one. USCIS willhave it in the file (they receive it after you enter at the POE). BUT you do need to visit a civil surgeon and get the medical supplement form. Take a copy of your vaccinations (or the copy from the medical vaccination sheet you received during the medical for the interview) and a civil surgeon will compelte the medical for you. The charge should be approx $25 unless you need for vaccines. They will then give you a seal envelope witht eh form and you send this in with the AOS paperwork.

ETA: It's fine to apply for the social security card at this stage/

Thanks for replying! So USCIS will have everything there then, so we don't have to mail that in? As far as the medical, what do we do if we don't have anything at all? Everything the doctor gave us went in to a sealed envelope and was given to immigration!

Hi there! We are just starting our AOS, and I am so confused. I didn't realize that we had to supply yet another copy of the passport, BC, medical documentation, NOA2 etc while filing our AOS. The problem is, US immigration took that packet from Johann when he came in through Miami. Now we do not have that! What else can we use for medical documentation since they took it? Also, our lawyer (who is worthless and not helping anymore) advised us for Johann to apply for a SSN. He did, and now I am afraid that we did something wrong! I am definitely panicy bc we JUST got married March 17th, but we want to start now which I am sure ya'll understand. Any help???

I can't believe it finally happened! The interview was easy peezy ... just amazing that all this time and effort boils down to a few minutes! We were more than prepared, and we zipped right through! Thank you all for your support and prayers!

Congratulations to you! Hooray!

I am including our Banquet Event Order and ceremony / reception plans in our packet. We have a whole binder of stuff, and there is a non-refundable $4,000.00 deposit on our wedding venue (with a floating date). I am definitely including that as proof that we are planning a full on, 180 people ceremony and reception. I don't think that too many people trying to trick the system would give up that money for a deposit. I don't think you can have "too much"... better this way than not enough.

Congratulations! I hope that I can be saying the same soon!!

I am in the process of resigning from my current job on cruise ships, and I am going to seek employment on land. Should I leave #7 blank, or put "resinging 11/5/06 to seek land based employment," or something to that sort? Any suggestions? We have a co-sponsor, but I was told I still need to do this form anyway.

As all of us here are approaching our interview, I thought it would be good to start a thread regarding the different reasoning for denials so that we can be that much more prepared. There surely are going to be the obvious ones, but lately I have been hearing some off the wall things that are making me more nervous than necessary! If we know of randomly off things that can happen before hand, then we can assure we learn from the past and assure that all avenues are COVERED! Anyone??

Happy Day!!!! Congratulations to you!!! Many blessings for a happy life together!

My fiancee went to the embassy yesterday bc they said that he could go in to pick up the packet 3, well normal services were closed because it is a holiday in Trinidad, but the lady at the desk told him that all he had to do, was come in, fill out a form, and then schedule an appointment for an interview ... doesn't this sound a bit strange???? Anyone else have something similar like this happen??

Has it just not changed as of yet and always said that??? Because even after they recieved our RFE back, the portfolio update took along time to change. It could be they have it and are processing it, but they didn't update your portfolio. Did it change and then go back?

Happy DAY!!!! Congratulations and may the rest of your process be a speedy one!!!!

I am so sorry! You will be in my prayers. May God Bless you and ease the pain that you must be feeling right now. I pray that your appeal is successful and that this issue is resolved. You will remain in my prayers.

OH yuck ... have fun ... that is the worse appointment! I am not fond of the dentist AT ALL!!!!!! It took about 10 years for them to realize that the medicine they were using to numb me never worked. 5 cavaties later (I know bad girl ... I ate a lot of candy when I was little) I had to use some special novicane. It took me running out of the dentist's office with the equipment in my mouth for them to finally look at a different option! Probably too much info ... but good luck! =)

Thank you to both of you!!!

It is a good idea to do the whole marriage by the JP then a big wedding later, however; my family threw a bit of a fit about that. They are a big time traditional Italian family. I wish I could do that, but oh well.

Matt ... definitely keep me posted and I will do the same! I wrote my lawyer about it, and I am assuming that I will hear some good advice from him, so I will keep you posted. Thanks again guys!

hey gina just wondering if you could set the wedding at about 80 days from when he enters and this way u can mail all our friends from out of the U S the invites as soon as he gets his visa in hand and then this way they will get the invite and hopefully get there visa in time for your wedding... just another thought, my fiances one brother will need a visa and as soon as he has this k-1 visa the invite will be mailed to his brother so he can hopefully get his visa to come to the wedding!!!! i am printing my own invites and leaving the date and time and place out and then will put print it on a clear addy lables and slapping them on the invites and out the door they go.... just another idea!!!

good luck!!

That is an excellent idea, but we are actually trying to work around our desired wedding date. We are really aiming for March 17th, and that is looking pretty realistic for us. Our packet 3 was just mailed out yesterday, so as long as everything runs smooth we are in good shape. I wish we could do what you suggest, but we are trying so hard to accomodate everyone else which I know I shouldn't do, but I always fall guilty. Example ... his sister is in school in Canada and we are trying to get her to be there and work around her schedule, our parents work schedules are tough, so we are trying to work around them ... anyhow I am just praying that it all sorts out. Thank you so much for the tips though! If all else fails, I will take your advice.

Congratulations and may God bless you. You have waited so long, may you rejoice and be happy for all the days of your lives together. God Bless.

Hey all! Our petition reached the embassy / consulate, and they mailed out a packet yesterday!!!!! So exciting!!! May God bless and God speed for us all!

When you call the NVC press 1 for english and then press 5 to talk to an operator. If you hear someone speaking in spanish that means the lines are busy and you should just hang up and hit redial. It sometimes took me 6 or 7 tries but you will eventually get through. I got my NOA2 on Sept 7 and the NVC didn't get it until Oct 10. But it did go out 2 days later on the 12th. 3 days later the manila embassy got the petition. Have patients, it really takes it to deal with all of this.

Gary ... it's nice to see you back! Are you back, back .. or just visiting!? I hope all is well!!!

It took my case sat for a month at the NVC before it was forwarded to consulate. You can email the consulate and request the packet 3 documents in PDF fomat. It lets you get a head start!

For those of you who have recieved a packet 3 recently ... out of curiousity ... what was the time frame between your case leavning the NVC / CSC and getting the packet 3????? Trying to make "guesstimates."

I did the same thing you did Carm, my petition sat at NVC for a month too, but as soon as it was sent to the Consulate, I emailed them, and they sent me Packet three via email ASAP.

Does every Consulate have the capability to send the packet 3 via e-mail??? That would be awesome if that is the case. You see, I am stressing because we both work on cruise ships, and right now we are working. Soooo ... we were thinking that he had to quit and leave AS SOON AS THAT PACKET REACHED!!! We don't want him to have to leave now so he can go home and sit for no reason when we could a) still both be working, but most importantly B) still be together!!! So confusing!

For those of you who have recieved a packet 3 recently ... out of curiousity ... what was the time frame between your case leavning the NVC / CSC and getting the packet 3????? Trying to make "guesstimates."

Oh my gosh ... I can only imagine the strength and blessings you feel right now. That is excellent! Congratulations!

thanks for all the support and im so glad i found VJ.com.

its really helped me through the rough times and I encourage everyone that is waiting for approval to hang in there!! Everything will work out in the end if its meant to be.

Congratulations! You are one step closer!!!! God Bless.

Wow! Congratulations to those of you have been approved on my lucky day! It was a great day for me as well! I just got back from spending time with my sweetie a little over a month ago and we haven't had the chance to talk much. It was ironic today though, I had written a letter on the 12th to my sweetie to tell him that we should start the paperwork for the K1 now rather than spending money we don't have for a trip for me to Jamaica in December. Well, he called me the morning of the 13th and echoed ALL that had been in my thoughts and my letter without having read it yet!!!! LOL So, I am sending him the starter paperwork for the K1 so we will be filing hopefully in November or December! YAY! We are finally going to start our visa journey I also received some good news from my academic advisor stating that I would be allowed to take the last 2 classes I need for my BA degree next semester so I can finally graduate! So, Friday the 13th was a great day for me as well as for some of you! Thank you for letting my share my news and for sharing your journeys as it gives me tremendous hope! Good luck and keep the stories coming~

All of the best to you! May God bless you with God Speed and strength, and welcome to VJ!

I am in agreeance with the e-mail process! It works the best. I never once called. I e-mailed all of the time, and I finally heard back. I am still getting e-mails back that I sent a while ago bc I seriously e-mailed like everyother day. To call is a bit of a waste of time I think. Just be sure to list the full names, date of birth, and state if you are the petitioner or beneficiary, as one time I got one e-mail back stating this is what they need to fullfill my inquiry. Good luck, and may you be blessed with even greater patience and strength. You will get through this. God Bless.

Congratulations and may God Bless you with a speedy process from hear on out!