lennon

I can tell you what not to do if the consular makes a problem, call them and try to get information or sound upset. It got my petition sent back to the US in one day.

Consular didn't waste anytime. I got an email today that said they sent the packet back to NVC Monday. Huh, not sure where to start now. Do I still contact the state people to file a complaint?

As of Monday, the stuff was still in Bolivia so I don't imagine it's gone yet. I will be contacting my state people today and see if they can help. The reason I called the consulate was to find out what sort of information they were looking for in addition to what we provided, he was very vague about there not being anything but it was 18 months of emails (mostly), phone card printouts, letters from others, whatever I could think of. The consular worker told my fiance the consular got mad at me. He was snotty and rude in his comments. I'm going to write and apologize and ask him to reconsider or at least not send my package back. I have yet to get any clear answer as to what we were deficient in. I will keep trying and as I said before, I'm going there in April so I will see him at least soon. It just seems overwhelming right now to have to start over again, hopefully that will not be the case.

Well, I'm not sure what my attitude was that day but I felt like I had sent sufficient stuff. I called to ask what sort of things more they were asking for and was me with the consular's disrespectful perspective of my situation. They had told him it was all good, then it wasn't, then it was, then come back, by the time I called him and got transferred 10 times it didn't work out well and I honestly don't know what more they want.

I don't quite understand your attitude about your situation. Isn't this you about three weeks ago?

"That's what I'm thinking. I think I sent sufficient documentation to prove it was ongoing. I don't know what he had, but he had over 200 pages from me, I had to count for DHL. I'm not going to sweat it, the fact is I sent him everything I had. And I'm not sure what they said."

Then interview was Oct. 3, then asked to to get more info and come back in a week, the second interview was October 10, they told him everything looked good leave the passport and they would send the stuff to him DHL, I called to see what was happening and they said to have him call, he called and they asked him for more information, he sent more information, then called again and they said they had to re-interview him, so I called to talk to the consulate and not just the desk people, the consulate was very disrespectful and got completely annoyed with me and basically said he would just deny it outright and I could take it up with the department of homeland security. I met him in 3/2006, we had some issues in between and he was supposed to meet me in Peru but due to earthquakes, location and lack of planning he unfortunately didn't make it, so after I talked to him I emailed to embassy to see what the next step was. We have since 4/2006, emails, DHL's, phone records, photos from when I was there, but I don't talk to him everyday, about once a week, because of work schedules and time difference, we were both preparing for the move since that has been the intention. Anyway, I'm not sure what other information we could give except for to print of every email we sent. We mostly communicate by email or messenger because it's most efficient, hard to prove if your not on the home computer and not all phone cards can give printouts, I know that now but before I didn't. Sooo.....that part of it. I'm now going down there in April since he's not coming up, it'll be good but I feel not too motivated to be proactive at this point. The stress is unbelievable.

I think the final thing he said was that we had not enough evidence and hadn't spent enough time together in person. How long does it take them to send it back to the US and which representative should I contact??

We had been told everything was good by the interview person, they kept the passport and said it would all be mailed to him in a couple of days, and then advised that the consular official was not going to grant the visa so I called and he was extremely disrespectful to me. I want to make a complaint, because I feel that he was judgmental because I am older than my fiance. I am disappointed but we'll see what to do next, I'm hopeful and going to visit in a few months. I feel like I'm going to have to start from the beginning again. Does anyone have any idea what happens when they send the case back to Dept. of Homeland security and what are the chances of getting approved after a previous denial??

My fiance went through a similar thing and I called the embassy myself and felt like it was very helpful.

My fiance had the first interview 10/3, they said they wanted more evidence of the relationship and told him to come back 10/10, sent him more stuff, he got more stuff he had, he went to the second interview and they keep his passport say they'll get back to him in a couple of days, it's been a couple of days so we email to find out what's going on, they respond that in their data base his interview was on 10/3 and they wanted more information, so I emailed back to find out what more they need after the 10/10 evidence and I get an automatic response that they are out of the office???????????? What am I supposed to do now?????? Call, Not call, check into a psychiatric hospital, throw up, get an attorney?????? who knows. If anyone has any words of wisdom or just some positive comments, I'm in the need of some.

tax forms for the last 2-3 years, letter of employment, bank statements, for the I-134, maybe the last few pay stubs received, then all the other stuff the proves the relationship exists.

I think it all depends on the embassy but petitions are not always abandoned. My fiance missed the first interview and all I had to do was send a letter that said I wished to proceed. Six months after the initial interview. Of course, I'm still waiting to hear if the visa was approved so it's probably best to let them know ahead of time.

Thank you so much for saying that!! It's so hard to know and more hard to get information. He said he thought they were positive, like asking him when he was planning on travelling, but I'm not sure if they just tell you that so people don't go postal on embassy employees or what. I'm hoping for the best, but appreciate all the words of encouragement I can get.

Well, he said they told him they would send him the passport back with the visa but in the interview information packet it says that the visa will be issued the same day, that's where the confusion is, but then he talked to all the others who were waiting there and they said they told them the same thing. It still doesn't make for a for sure, book the ticket answer. That is why I was wondering how other embassies did things.

So, today was my fiance's second interview for the visa, they requested more information on the last visit. He submitted the documentation and photos that they requested but they didn't issue him the visa that day. They kept his passport and told him they would send it to him in three days, with the visa. Is that a common occurrance?????? That leaves me still hanging and wondering what to do because we can't really make travel plans or finish the wedding plans wtihout knowing if he's for sure coming or not. I contacted the embassy to see if they could give me a better idea of what was going on so I'm waiting to hear from them. My fiance said that they told the same thing to all the people who were there that day to receive their visas. There are not many postings for my country on VJ so I just wanted to see if this was common or something to be concerned about. I'm tired of all the problems.

About the fee increases, I don't know if any of you have looked in depth into the fees but not only is the AOS I think it is over $1000 but there's a supplemental form that has to go in with it which is also $1000, so it's really more like $2010. I almost threw up when I looked at it. The positive side, the work permit and travel parole is free with the $2010 for the other forms. Someone please let me know if I'm wrong but that's how I read it.

I completely agree, the whole process is irritating and emotionally unpleasant. My fiance's interview was last week, for whatever reason they wanted more stuff, so we sent more stuff, I was hoping to know by this morning, the new interview, he's sitting in the embassy waiting to see what they say and I'm at work totally freaking out because I just need to know already. For as many people who get into this country fraudulently it seems like a a tremendous amount of work to navigate the system legally. I hope your stuff works out soon and I hope by 5 pm in Bolivia I know he can be on his way. I'll pray for you.

Sorry but I am just really frustrated by all the generic emails embassy's send out and the BS you have to put up with. my fiance's name finally showed up on the website for Ankara Turkey stating his clearance was complete and his visa was ready. it states you will receive ur visa 2-3 days after processing. So this is what we assumed.

He went ot the embassy on Monday October 1, was told nothing about there being a problem and left his visa. He fully expected it to be returned in a few days. Now it has been 10 days and these are the responses we have gotten (for tow days their email system returned everything I sent through their website as undeliverable). He was told by email that "due to heavy caseloads they are still processing his visa". I was told "he is still undergoing administrative processing and when this is complete his case number will appear on the website". and they have ups'd his passport (I assume without the visa) today.

Duh, do you think he would have gone there if his case number did not show complete? And if his visa was not ready why wasn't he told on October 1 instead of being forced to stay in Turkey for 2 weeks spending his money and missing work.

I guess we will know when he receives his passport if there is a visa in it or not since the embassy doesn't seem to know what they are doing. Once he is here in the States I intend on making a complaint about this. They could have told him 10 days ago his visa was not ready come back when we contact you

You have to talk to him. There's no fool proof method. You have to find out what happened and what they said and what he carried with him. This part of the process is really his responsibility to coordinate things and make things come to the final approval. He's got to pick up responsibility and work with you to get what he needs.

That's what I'm thinking. I think I sent sufficient documentation to prove it was ongoing. I don't know what he had, but he had over 200 pages from me, I had to count for DHL. I'm not going to sweat it, the fact is I sent him everything I had. And I'm not sure what they said.

The disbelief could well be based on his answers to interview questions. You need a detailed report of the interview experience. I'd also focus on your time-out in the middle of the process. How many times did you visit in person? When was the last time you visited?

We met while I was on a mission trip in 3/2006. I filed the petition in 7/2006. He went on another mission to Chile in 9/2006 and communication lessened as well as some other issues, my own and his own, it's challenging to maintain a relationship much less from far away as I'm sure everyone knows, I didn't hear from him for about 3 weeks but had contact with his father who said he wanted to continue but was broke and stuck in Chile, and we resumed regular contact in 3/2007. So, it was not a break per se from the petition, more that I didn't know what we were doing at all, I had asked how to withdraw if I wanted to, might be part of the problem. We were supposed to meet again in Aug in Peru, another mission trip, but there was a big earthquake there, airport was closed for a few days and he was having trouble with work allowing him time off, so unforeseeable events, we didn't meet in Peru and resumed the process. Now we're at where we're at now.

I don't recall but if you haven't already, I would express him a notarized letter from you to the Consulate reaffirming your intention to marry. You might want to include a brief description of the evolution of your relationship. I suspect the major issue is your call to ask about how to withdraw the petition.

I must say, at the moment both of you appear to be taking this all a bit to casually to give the impression of a bona fide relationship.

Okay, so I talked to him today and the problem wasn't the answers to the questions but he was very nervous. When we rescheduled the appointment he didn't receive that packet of his required stuff until like last week so he's been travelling across the country trying to get everything done. He didn't arrive in the embassy city until less than two hours before the appointment. He said he was very nervous and all they really want is more pictures. I'm sending letters from friends, more pictures and he's getting some stuff that he wasn't able to pick up before leaving for the appointment because he had expected to get everything faster than he actually got it. I think everything will be fine at the next appointment. I was just freaking out because I was unable to get a hold of him and had no idea what the problem was and to get stuff to him in time for the next interview I have to send it from here tomorrow. Now I know and it's all good. Not so much that I'm being casual but I have been afraid that the circumstances could cause a problem. He said the actual interview went fine and he knew the answers to the things they asked about. His nervousness sent up the flag, he thinks and I think. I feel like everything will turn out fine. Thanks for the assistance. There's always good information here and everyone is helpful.

You have to talk to him. There's no fool proof method. You have to find out what happened and what they said and what he carried with him. This part of the process is really his responsibility to coordinate things and make things come to the final approval. He's got to pick up responsibility and work with you to get what he needs.

That's what I'm thinking. I think I sent sufficient documentation to prove it was ongoing. I don't know what he had, but he had over 200 pages from me, I had to count for DHL. I'm not going to sweat it, the fact is I sent him everything I had. And I'm not sure what they said.

The disbelief could well be based on his answers to interview questions. You need a detailed report of the interview experience. I'd also focus on your time-out in the middle of the process. How many times did you visit in person? When was the last time you visited?

We met while I was on a mission trip in 3/2006. I filed the petition in 7/2006. He went on another mission to Chile in 9/2006 and communication lessened as well as some other issues, my own and his own, it's challenging to maintain a relationship much less from far away as I'm sure everyone knows, I didn't hear from him for about 3 weeks but had contact with his father who said he wanted to continue but was broke and stuck in Chile, and we resumed regular contact in 3/2007. So, it was not a break per se from the petition, more that I didn't know what we were doing at all, I had asked how to withdraw if I wanted to, might be part of the problem. We were supposed to meet again in Aug in Peru, another mission trip, but there was a big earthquake there, airport was closed for a few days and he was having trouble with work allowing him time off, so unforeseeable events, we didn't meet in Peru and resumed the process. Now we're at where we're at now.

You have to talk to him. There's no fool proof method. You have to find out what happened and what they said and what he carried with him. This part of the process is really his responsibility to coordinate things and make things come to the final approval. He's got to pick up responsibility and work with you to get what he needs.

That's what I'm thinking. I think I sent sufficient documentation to prove it was ongoing. I don't know what he had, but he had over 200 pages from me, I had to count for DHL. I'm not going to sweat it, the fact is I sent him everything I had. And I'm not sure what they said.

Do you have a detailed record of the phone calls showing the date and numbers called ?

Did they actually look at all the relationship evidence ?

It is important to get a feel for the questions asked and answers he may or may not have known.

What about a notarized letter of family and friends attesting of your relationship ?

If you have more photos submit them. Give them all you have.

You have to act quickly.

I gave them almost all I have, phone calls, emails, receipts. I'm going to get a couple of letters together to send out. Got to see what fotos I have. I met him on a mission trip so the relationship part of it was kind of under cover but we were together working everday. I'm trying to get him to tell me what they said but I haven't heard back from him yet. The only thing I think I can get is letters.

What did the embassy tell you, did they give you a paper or anything?

I wasn't at the interview, I live in Alaska and my fiance lives in Bolivia. He said that they needed more proof of the relationship. I sent tons of ####### because my feeling is that better to have too much than not enough, I'm not sure what he took. He's been travelling for a week to get all the remaining papers and getting to the embassy. He did not receive the first notice, so he didn't get the info packet until last week but the interview was already scheduled for today. Since I'm not able to get a hold of him today, I'm waiting for him to email me to let me know what exactly they said. He was disappointed after being there the whole day to not get the visa.

You need to give more details to get better responses.

What do you mean by "semi denied " ?

Has the petition been returned or were you asked to submit further proof of a bona fide relationship ?

How long was the ' time out " and was this addressed in the interview ? Did the CO ask about it ?

I'm not sure what they asked about. They said we have a week to submit more stuff. Actually we never completely stopped communicating for more than a month it was just not everyday like it had been. Then I got a new job and he did also so we communicated only a couple of times a week. I was approved last October and the first interview date was Dec. 06. I don't really know what more they want. At this time I'm not sure how to contact my fiance because he's somewhere the phone doesn't work and I only got an email saying they needed something else and we have a week to do it.

They said that they were not convinced that the relationship was genuine. We had some trouble in the middle, I almost cancelled the petition but now we're cool. What kind of stuff do they want ?? They had pictures, phone stuff, email, letter, all the paperwork etc. I'm 15 years older than he is, might be one thing. We also don't talk constantly because of his work schedule, my work schedule, and the time difference. Maybe I'm just not that needy, but then again I thought he was going to be here soon. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Today was the interview, supposedly at 8:30 in the morning. It's past 4 pm their time and I haven't heard anything news. Is that a good sign or a bad sign? Anybody know how long it takes at the embassy the day of the interview?? It's driving me nutty.