Texas Bound

Congrats Ebony, Sonshyne, LovinJA and Ricardo!!!!!

Fantastic news!!!!

Ditto that

CONGRATS ALL MARCH INTERVIEWEES, WE DID IT. VISAS COME ON!!!

Ok you guys, since I have time on my hands as I await our Visa delivery. I have scanned & saved in PDF the entire contents of Packet #3 for all upcoming petitioners. How do I post this?

Here it is.............Reading you can see why some of us were worried about the $335 request & side profile shots & I-864. Crazy.

K_1_JAMAICA_PACKET_3.pdf

Thank you everyone for the positive words. It does help when others are out there & are understanding. I am just so exhausted with this whole thing.

Nannygirl, I did buy tickets but had to cancel them. So now Im waiting as prices go up again. Well, they cant take forever...Can they?

Good morning family from Jamaica,

VISA APPROVED

I will post details when I get home. Thanks for all the love, support and guidance!

Good Luck to Ebony Sean and LovingJa today!!I left good vibes.

I AM SOOOOO PROUD OF YOU. I knew you could do it. CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU BOTH.

Thank you everyone for the positive words. It does help when others are out there & are understanding. I am just so exhausted with this whole thing.

Nannygirl, I did buy tickets but had to cancel them. So now Im waiting as prices go up again. Well, they cant take forever...Can they?

HEY TO ALL MY VJ FRIENDS....YOU GUYS HAVE FORGOTTEN ALL ABOUT ME AND SEAN. HE IS IN KINGSTON TONIGHT AND HIS INTERVIEW IS AT 1230. I HAVE BEEN BUSTING MY BUT WITH SCHOOL. I GOOFED WHEN I SENT HIM ALL OF THE FORMS AND EVIDENCE. I DIDNT GET THE 134 NOTARIZED.....BUMMER. I ALSO DIDNT GET THE BANK LETTER FROM MY MOM. IT HASNT COME YET. UUUUUGH. IM READING ALL OF THIS GOOD NEWS STUFF AND NOW I FEEL LIKE IM GONNA BE THE FIRST TO REPORT A BLUE SLIP. DANG IT!!!!!!!!!!!I SENT ALL THE INFO SINCE THURSDAY BY FEDEX OVERNIGHT AND HE STILL HASNT GOTTEN IT YET. WHEN I CALLED THEY SAID IT GOT HELD UP IN CUSTOMS AND HE WILL GET IT IN THE MORNING. WELL I GUESS ITS FAIR TO SAY WE ARE DEFINETLY EXPERIENCING MURPHY'S LAW

Dont give up. Someone over there can notorize the I-134. You may get by without a bank letter if you have some acct info. Remember mine was very odd, they didnt even look at my statements or bank letter. But look at me now. No visa released yet.

Texas I can't believe you still haven't received your Visa yet I wonder what the hold up is??

IT IS STILL NOT PRINTED YET!!!!!!!!!!!!! I called the Embassy & they said that it is hung up in the computer system & they would call the computer person to check on it in Washington!!! She said she would call my fiancee back & tell him what is going on. (Yea sure, right, Im stupid now) I cant believe it. Why me, Why me!!! I am going to lose my mind!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I have emailed my Congresswoman again. This makes no sense. She also said it usually takes 4 days & that we are stuck in the system. What the Hell does that mean? I am no longer calm. This is BULL SHI............

Texas - Check your PM. My co-worker said she would look it up for you.

Thank you soooo much, I just replied. Please Lord help me settle down.

Texas I can't believe you still haven't received your Visa yet I wonder what the hold up is??

IT IS STILL NOT PRINTED YET!!!!!!!!!!!!! I called the Embassy & they said that it is hung up in the computer system & they would call the computer person to check on it in Washington!!! She said she would call my fiancee back & tell him what is going on. (Yea sure, right, Im stupid now) I cant believe it. Why me, Why me!!! I am going to lose my mind!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I have emailed my Congresswoman again. This makes no sense. She also said it usually takes 4 days & that we are stuck in the system. What the Hell does that mean? I am no longer calm. This is BULL SHI............

Nice and small, no fuss, no muss. Then I can get down to the business of planning the big bashment.

You know you just gave me an idea... My Great Aunt has a backyard to die for. Maybe I'll ask to use hers.

Glad to be of help! Now all I have to do is find a decent dress.

Id like to have my wedding in Austin overlooking Lake Travis. About 25 guest. Nothing big; been there done that. To me it means so much more to have it quaint & personal. I take my vows very seriously & just want to say them to him before God! Hopefully he will get here so we can do this.

EbonySean this one is in the bag girl.!! Heads up.

For everyone that filed K1 - did you plan for and have a simple wedding soon after your fiance arrived? Did you do anything bigger later on? Were the guests mostly your friends and family?

Still planning ahead.

Before the wedding I had all these hopes and dreams of this big picture perfect wedding. After the wedding I could wish for nothing more. Small (4) guest. Including the photographer and the minister. We were married in a chapel here in town. May do something bigger for our 5 year anniversary in Jamacia.

That sounds ideal!!!

Good luck, LovinJA and Ricardo!!!

Thanks!!! I'm so excited that the date is almost here!!

LOVIN JA & RICARDO! YOU WILL MAKE IT!!!!!!!

Oh my gosh!!! I just got off the tele. with the Embassy......they HAVE NOT even printed the Visa yet!!!! & Cant explain why!!!! She told me to check back on Monday, I feel confident it will be ready then. She was very helpful & put me on hold 2 times while she researched & looked. She did seem concerned. Hopefully she just didnt put me on hold to eat her lunch!!! My luck, laughing in the background. Dang it, I wish Id called sooner to follow up. I cannot imagine. Nannygirl, do you think it slipped through the cracks like yours?? Did you ever find out what happened to delay you for 11 days? You guys keep sending the vibes my way, it is not over yet!!!

:dance: :dance: Just heard from Sonshyne! VISA APPROVED!!!!!!!! :dance:

Yeah!!!! Congratulations Sonshyne!!! We're on a roll!!!! Next up...... Ricardo....Ebony_Sean....LovinJA!!!

OK LADIES... LET'S KEEP THE APPROVALS ROLLING!! YOU ALL WILL DO JUST FINE I LEFT NOTHING BUT GOOD VIBES FOR YOU AT THE EMBASSY

JAX CONGRATS AND THE INTERVIEW DATE

WLECOME TO THE NEWBIES

SONSHYNE--

IM SO PROUD OF YOU!!! We will all succeed. Good luck to the upcoming interviews.

Lovelyjodie---Welcome to AMERICA!!!

My fiance had an appt. to drop of the DS230. He also had an appt. to pick up the packet with the interview letter because we thought it got lost in the mail..... it actually showed up a week after he picked it up. But, I had already called the embassy and gotten the interview date.... So, you definitely need an appt. to drop of the DS230. You need an appt. for everything...

Okay, I'll email the embassy to request an appointment. Or is it already scheduled and included in packet 3? I'm trying to avoid having to wait for packet 3 in the mail. The mail takes so LONG there!

Thanks for your response, too, Texas Bound!

Hey just have it delivered by mail (use a local courier for around 10.00) . It will take to darn long for them to give you an appt.

thanks Nannygirl for the 2 week notice. Do you think I should call the Embassy to check the status of release? Oh how I dont want to ever call them AGAIN!! While I was there, I looked around & didnt see the phone receptionist........Oh how I would have loved to introduce myself!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

SONSHYNE----YOU ROCK GIRL, I KNEW YOU COULD DO IT.

Question, please. When our fiance(e)s are sent packet 3, they just return the DS230 to the embassy and then the wait starts for the interview date, right? What do they need to do to return the DS230? I mean, do they just walk up to a window at the embassy and hand it in? Do they speak to someone outside that directs them to where they need to go inside?

You can mail it. Use a tracking service. Before we had an appt. scheduled to pick up Packet 3 & he could have dropped it off at that time.

Im not sure about drop offs without appointments. After the DS-230 is received it takes about 2-4weeks to receive an interview date, take a look at my timeline, I tried to be very detailed for future posters.

TEXASBOUND CONGRATS!!!! :dance:

Thanks for the low down. One, question: so did they ask for those profile shots or not? It seems frightening to me that the YOU knew more than the woman at the window. It is so arbitrary depending on who you get and what THEY know or dont know. Hope that your man gets the visa in hand quickly. Where does he live? I think that is a strong factor in how quickly one gets it.

Belwinmills - Now all you have to do is countdown the days!

They did not ask for the 2 side profile shots. We did have them since it was requested on their form. He lives in Black River. We chose the Kingston Airpak location in hopes of saving 1-2 day delivery time. Thank you guys so much for everything. Im sending many blessings to you.

Unfortunately my sweetie did not get the Airpak info in time to travel back with me!!!

Congratulations!! When is he coming???

Hopefully next weekend. Im not booking again until he says he has it in his hand, this has already cost me a small fortune to cancel. Plus, I was going to use my miles for one portion from JFK, & now I cant do that!!! It did feel good being able to say, Ill see you next week though.

Congratulations!!! I am sorry to hear the visa was not provided in time though! I hope he gets it soon!

Your description of your experience is very conforting. I have wanted to believe that as long as I have everything in order, we will be fine. And your experience has confirmed that. I am so happy that everything went smoothly for you.

Question:

Would you suggest I have a packet to hand off to the person in the 2nd section? Packet including DS 156, 156K, 157, 230Pt. 1 & 2, I134 and supporting evidence(taxes, letter from bank and employer, paystubs, bank statements, divorce decree, 401K info., No Impediment, Police Certificate, Passport Photos, Birth Certificate (fiance), Passport (fiance).

Then just keep evidence of relationship for interviewer?

I want to make this as easy as possible and don't want to have to pull papers out of my file while standing at the window.

Congrats again!!!!

I would just have all the papers available to hand over. Heck I was more organized than she was. funny. Just be ready to hand to her as she asks for them just as I did. You know what they didnt even look or ask for my recent bank info, or recent paystubs .......

texas bound .......yeah yeah went down there and did the damn thing hope you can bring back ur honey.

Hello my family!!!! I am back in Texas. Unfortunately my sweetie did not get the Airpak info in time to travel back with me!!! This was very frustrating having to leave him again & the fact that I was assured by my interviewer that everything would be in my hands prior to our travel date---which was 7 days later!!! Anyway, I came, I went & I conquered. My trip was stressful due to the waiting with Airpak. But I got what I came for ---an APPROVAL. My interview was very, very UNLIKE any I’ve heard of. It was very professional in all aspects. We arrived at 7:30am, the line was pretty short around 15 people in front of us. I went over his original information he received in the mail---& sure enough there were things I had not seen before –like the request for a right side profile shot of him, notarized I-864 for co sponsor etc. Fyi, someone screwed up our photos we received the night before regarding the side profile shot so we went across the street from the embassy that a.m. & had them re done instantly. It was very early in the a.m. & the Rastas were actually open for business. We went into the compound and were advised to put our names on the back of our photos. We were given a slip of paper that gave instructions for Visa Pick up – Airpak. We were told to sign the DS 230 (the requestor did not say part I—which could have been confusing to many), but you only sign part I & once inside in front of the embassy interviewer you sign part II. They let you in by groups according to your times so we waited a bit outside on the benches. We were pretty comfortable as we played tic tac toe like kids & laughed & talked. I mean at this point this was the day we waited for & were ready. Once inside they have 3 separate sections. 1st section they called my sweetie to the window for fingerprints & also took his photo. 2nd section rude- pushy lady asked for our paperwork. I asked her which ones did she want, & she curtly stated Do you not know what you need to turn in, you can sit down if you are not ready?, I responded patiently, calmly & professionally, Iam ready & continued to pull my paperwork out, according to the way I had them filed in my binder. I started to give her the list. It was soooooo evident she did not know what to ask me for ---no list or anything because as I was pulling the documents out someone walked up to her & gave her my original packet & was talking to her. After that person left she began reading off what was needed. She even forgot to ask for the DS 157 (as my interviewer later asked for it). Next Section 3 -----we sat up front & listened as other people were drilled!!!!! It was unbelievable how they truly question some of them. It is so evident that some were borderline fraudulent & un prepared.

She said to me that my information packet had quite a bit of info & was one of the biggest. I thanked her for the compliment. She also asked me what my binder was that I had & I advised her “This was more evidence for proof of relationship.” She said you are prepared & I said “Yes, this is the day & purpose of my application.” We were interviewed together, & were asked only a few questions. They asked me what do I do for a living. Do I have any children? They asked him why he loved me; where do I live, do I have a large family, how many sisters do I have? That was pretty much it. She was soooo friendly & accommodating. She asked me for 2006 taxes (I had already submitted 2005 to Section II lady which reflected majority of Business income). She said she just wanted to make sure I was over the poverty line & stated that my 2006 would likely be easier to read. I supplied it to her & advised her that I attempted to give 06 to the other lady & she did not want it. She did not ask for new evidence, photos, I-864, nothing. That is it, approved. I spoke to her about the time frame for release of the passport & she stated that there would not be a problem because she would have them printed the next day & should be ready by Friday. -------------- Didn’t happen though. Oh well. As many before me have said, have all of your paperwork ready & you will succeed. I will give you the same advice I gave my sweetie “They will try to rush you, don’t feel pressured just give them everything at your pace, you take control & be confident” Thank you all fellow board members for your guidance.

Keishino, sorry you didnt get through the first time. But you are just that closer. Im sure you will be here way before Easter. Lovelyjodie, Im glad you got the visa in 3 days, Gives me hope for my flights that are booked 7 days later. Yall, pray for us. & thank you for everything.

hello again...thanks for all the great vibes everyone, i really appreciate them! :-)

okay - so jodie laid out everything just the way it happened with us, too...the first window they took all the forms (i'll post a list of stuff we took, and stuff they kept from that pile - we had way more than they wanted, but i am glad we did)...then they fingerprinted him at the 2nd window and the 3rd was the interview...i will post a list of all the questions we were asked shortly...so we got through all that and then the lady said that although every single other thing was in order, our co-sponsor didn't fill out the right form...now, EVERYTHING i read before going down there was that a co-sponsor needed to fill out the i-134, and give all the back-up info/docs that i gave on my i-134 (i.e. their own bank statements, taxes, job letter, etc.)...(the reason we needed a co-sponsor is because i am self-employed and work on contracts that don't always pay me in totally taxable ways - like i get per diems that aren't taxed, and that makes up a lot of my income...anyway, if anyone else has an unconventional situation like that and has questions, don't hesitate to ask)...SO - sorry for being so windy! the interviewer lady tells me that our co-sponsor must fill out the i-864, NOT the i-134...(futuremrs, feel free to pm me about this as i saw you're using a co-sponsor as well)...so they gave us a blue paper and said we have to fill that one out and bring the original signed copy back, along with proof of the co-sponsor's u.s. citizenship (i.e. birth cert.)...i was furious when we left the embassy because i never heard anywhere that a co-sponsor had to do the i-864...my understanding was that that was ONLY for when they get here...am still trying to figure out if it says this anywhere - has anyone else seen this?! i AM relieved that this really is just a delay and not a denial of any sort...so it was disappointing, not devastating... :-) just a little hurdle...

again, i'm still a little spaced out and i promise to write a more proper explanation of what-all happened asap, just wanted to get this on here so people with upcoming interviews can know...

by the way, we filled out the ds156, 156k and 157 on the computer, i think better safe than sorry, so we had all of them typed instead of handwritten...we also took a copy of the ds230 part i and ii because it said to do that on his instructions...when we first got inside the building, they asked everyone to sign and date the 230 part 1 (#25 specifically), and we said he'd turned one in already so they didn't take the copy we had...

we took 6 full-frontal photos and they kept 4 of them...we did notice that the stuff they sent him contained 2 different sets of instructions for the photos...there is a part that says something about 3/4 view with the right ear showing...turns out that is on the old papers - the ones that list the $335 and all the other stuff that doesn't pertain any more...all they wanted was the front ones...

also, he has 2 sons, one in ja and one in the u.s. - we took birth certificates for both of them, the one in ja is coming here next year, so he's included in all our paperwork - but they didn't take either of the boy's certificates...i think its a good idea to take them anyway, just in case...

someone asked about how many copies of the police cert you need, when your SO gets it there are 2 copies stapled together...they will take one at the embassy and he will keep the other one...

trying to think of other things...will post as they come to me...

hello again...thanks for all the great vibes everyone, i really appreciate them! :-)

Keishino do you have any idea how much you have helped me. Thank. I catch my flight out in the a.m. & will ensure that the 864 info is there. I will post to you all as soon as I get through the Embassy

Anyone heard from Keishino?????

Keishino 3/6/07 K1

Lovelyjodie, that is 100% great. Congratulations!!!! Im dying about the 2 weeks visa wait. Please let me know how quickly you get your visa (hopefully it is faster than that!!!). I ALREADY HAVE TICKETS BOOKED 8 days later!!!!!!!!!! This makes no sense!!!!! These people!!!!!!! Im not going to change the flights until the last minute. Worst case scenario I will leave without him & re schedule his. Oh Lord, please help me make it through this country! You know on the website it says..........approx 4 business days.

and to answer about poverty line guide....you go by how many people will be in the houshold...so if it is you, fiancee and child it would be 3 people....

Here's a question. My income for 2006 should be fine. However, in late 2004 I quit my job to finish school and didn't work again until late 2005. My income for 2005 is probably going to be low. Before 2005, my income was probably above the guidelines.

Should I submit a letter with my 134 to explain why my income was low in 2005?

Should I submit tax records for additional years to show that 2005 was the only year my income was low?

And when they ask for three years, do they mean the current year plus 3 years back or the current year plus 2 years back?

Okay, so that was more than one question.

Yes do all of the above. Go ahead & get a co sponsor so you can have it if by any chance they have a problem with it. I got one just in case they give me heck about business income not being able to support my partner, since I have my own business.

Should be 2006, 2005, 2004 if you can bring 2003 too, do so. Do not leave any room for errors or questions. Better to be over prepared than just prepared in their case.

My Honey got his medical done yesturday his appointment was at 830 and it was a all day experience. He was there until 5:00 The total cost was 14000 J.

Some of my paper work has 3 pole punches in them so that I can put them in a binder. Do you guys think this will be ok? Should I re-copy them and not put hole in them or does it really matter?? I only did things like, my W-2's, taxes, proof of relationship etc... I didn't do any of the forms. I am trying to make sure everything is to their expectation.

Sonshyne,

Did your honey get a copy of the medical?

He said they gave him a copy of the vaccination record. You list looks good Those are the things I have as well. I've also included a copy of my marriage license along with the divorce decree (previously married)

I have been wearing my hair natural for 2 years now. I love it!!! I wore braids or weaves for most of that time, I started wearing it out in August in a curly afro or a afro puff. For the last 3 months I've been wearing it twisted. I'm slowly working myself towards Locks that is my ultimate goal. I've been wanting to do this for several years. I spend alot of time on this website www.nappturality.com. Ok well maybe too much time It is alot like this one... Very addicting and it offers a great deal of info and support. Check it out and let me know what you think.

That's a cool site. Lots of good info. My starter locs are on there somewhere.

Is your screen name the same as it is here??

Yes, it's the same. You'll see me around. Thanks, again.

No problem.

MARRIAGE LISCENSE!!!! Totally didn't think about that! I gotta track that down.... Is that required??? Thanks!

It is required. I missed it on my initial list & someone added it. It is on the Information required list from the Packet #3. I almost missed it too!!!!

SONSHYNE,

I hope she regains her strength.

Lovelyjodie, that is 100% great. Congratulations!!!! Im dying about the 2 weeks visa wait. Please let me know how quickly you get your visa (hopefully it is faster than that!!!). I ALREADY HAVE TICKETS BOOKED 8 days later!!!!!!!!!! This makes no sense!!!!! These people!!!!!!! Im not going to change the flights until the last minute. Worst case scenario I will leave without him & re schedule his. Oh Lord, please help me make it through this country!