mollyreyna

Hi Damian P,

My husband just got his Illinois License on Friday. He held a drivers' license from Italy. Apparently there is a pact between Illinois, Italy, Germany, I think, and I don't know which other countries, that allows you to get an IL license without taking the driving exam. My husband had to get a letter from the Italian Consulate certifying that he has an Italian license (which cost $50!!) and present it to the DMV.

We went to the DMV on Friday. After waiting in a super long line to take the written and vision exam, he was told that since he had the Consulate letter, he wasn't even required to take the written exam. However, I really don't know if the girl knew what she was talking about. I would go to the DMV and ask about it. For us, getting the Consulate letter saved a lot of time and trouble, since the DMV which gives the driving exams is nowhere near our house and we don't have a car.

Thank you, mollyreyna! Yes, we are interviewing in Naples, Italy and flying out of Italy.

I was surprised to read about this brown envelope, as even in our Packet 3 it said that if visa is granted, it is usually granted that same day. We will triple-check to make sure we have everything.

Our interview is on September 11th, and we bought a non-refundable ticket for September 13th!

Are we in trouble?

Are you going through the American Consulate in Italy? Are you flying out of Italy?

We bought a ticket for a couple of days after the interview but we were missing something so my husband ended up missing his flight. We had to pay a 150 euro penalty to change his flight date.

Usually even with a non-refundable flight you can change the date for a penalty. You should look into that with your carrier to see if that's their policy.

I think that if you're very confident that you have everything, you'll be fine. We knew that we were missing something since my husband lost his original birth certificate right before the interview.

No problem! At the Naples Consulate they usually give you the visa the same day as the interview, if you are approved. The brown envelope is handed to you at the same time as the visa. Make sure you and your spouse don't open the envelope! It has to be sealed when you present it at Immigration at the airport.

Our interview is on September 11th, and we bought a non-refundable ticket for September 13th!

Are we in trouble?

Are you going through the American Consulate in Italy? Are you flying out of Italy?

We bought a ticket for a couple of days after the interview but we were missing something so my husband ended up missing his flight. We had to pay a 150 euro penalty to change his flight date.

Usually even with a non-refundable flight you can change the date for a penalty. You should look into that with your carrier to see if that's their policy.

I think that if you're very confident that you have everything, you'll be fine. We knew that we were missing something since my husband lost his original birth certificate right before the interview.

How long should we expect to wait for the interview to be scheduled in Naples?

They received our petition on July 6th, we faxed packet 3 back to them on the 19th, and we're still waiting... They are not replying to emails, I can't get through the telephone.

Anna,

It took about a month to get a date for an interview from the time we faxed packet 3, and the interview was scheduled for about a month after we received packet 4.

So, from the time we faxed our applicant's statement to the consulate to the time he interviewed was two months.

Hope this helps!

I would keep trying to call them and ask the date. That is how I found out. When you call the number, press 1 for English and then press 0, which gives you the operator. From there, ask for the Visa Section. They are only open Tuesday and Wednesday from 2-4pm, I think it is.

Maybe that's why you couldn't get through. Be persistent and if you get the voicemail for the Visa section even if you call during business hours, call the operator back...eventually you'll get through.

molly,

i am so excited tooooo I guess it is a count down for us now

I think our husbands are going to be traveling on the same airplane

I am trying to change his flight though since I have some issues with my vacation dates, and he will be going back .I am trying to spend everyday with him while he is here. i wonder if delta would waive their fees somehow if I changed his flight dates, I have to call them and find out.

how is your husband dealing with the move from italy to the usa?mine is so crazy worried and I don t blame him at all.

best of luck

3sila

3sila,

Less than 48 hourS!!! I can't believe it! Are you going crazy just like me? Did you end up changing your husband's flight?

Hey Everyone!

I'm not Ecuadorian but my husband is!! He's from Guayaquil (living in Italy right now)...Actually, we went to Guayaquil last summer and I really loved it (especially the food!)

It was a really beautiful city...

Anyways, as you can see from my timeline, my husband is due to arrive in Chicago in a week, and I wanted to surprise him by making cazuela, only I cannot find a recipe for the life of me. (I knew I should have helped my mother-in-law more in the kitchen!) Anyways, if any of you could provide the recipe, I'd be very grateful.

Thanks in advance!

Oh, sorry, I got mixed up!

I did pay for my husband's ticket with my own credit card. I called Delta today and they said it should be no problem.

I am not worried.

Is your husband's final destination Ohio? kelvin's is Chicago. Hopefully he'll make his connecting flight. I though Cinncinnati would be a lot more calmer as a P.O. E. as compared to JFK.

molly,

I hope cincinnati is much better POE. I read some good experiences about it.

well yes this will be his final destination I can t wait

I wouldn t worry about your husband making his flight connection, he will be okay. tell him to just ask if he need help no problems

how excited are you?

what time is your husband scheduled to arrive here?

3sila

oh my goodness i'm so excited!!! although he doesn't technically have his visa yet so i shouldn't get too happy.

he's arriving in Cinncinnati at 3:30 pm and has a connecting flight at 4:40pm.

what about yours?

i have the appointment

yahooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

27 and 28 august

kappa,

congrats

I AM SO HAPPY FOR YOU

anyquestions I am here especialy because I went thru cr1 too

let me know

breezy,

how are you doing? do you know when you are moving to the usa?

my husband is flying to ohio august the 16 th I am so happppppppppppppyyyyyy

he has to make another trip to italy thought to finish some business B)

Kappa,

my husband is flying to Ohio from Rome on August 16 as well with Delta airlines...maybe they're on the same plane???!!!

this is actually my hasband not keppa's

OHHHHH my God I think they may be

I have aquestion for you

did you buy your husband his ticket?

I did and now I am so worried. someone's husband had trouble boarding because they don t have the credit card used to pay on them

Oh, sorry, I got mixed up!

I did pay for my husband's ticket with my own credit card. I called Delta today and they said it should be no problem.

I am not worried.

Is your husband's final destination Ohio? kelvin's is Chicago. Hopefully he'll make his connecting flight. I though Cinncinnati would be a lot more calmer as a P.O. E. as compared to JFK.

i have the appointment

yahooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

27 and 28 august

kappa,

congrats

I AM SO HAPPY FOR YOU

anyquestions I am here especialy because I went thru cr1 too

let me know

breezy,

how are you doing? do you know when you are moving to the usa?

my husband is flying to ohio august the 16 th I am so happppppppppppppyyyyyy

he has to make another trip to italy thought to finish some business B)

Kappa,

my husband is flying to Ohio from Rome on August 16 as well with Delta airlines...maybe they're on the same plane???!!!

molly,

I am sorry about the problem you are having with your husband's birth certificate, I hope it will be easy getting them to send you one with the right year

I am thinking of you, and wishing you the best and quick solution

Hey Everyone!

Thanks so much for all of your words of support. Congrats Kappa! If you have any questions about the interview I can try to answer!

I really like Alitalia, I've flown with them several times back and forth from Italy and the U.S.. The food is good and the crew is nice.

Yeah, they only let you in for visas on Tuesday and Wednesday!

Keeping my fingers crossed for you!

so, i wanted to give everyone a little update on Kelvin's visa situation.

He headed down to Naples on Sunday night and stayed at a B&B. He woke up early and went to the medical, which was no problem at all. The next morning, Tuesday, was the visa interview at the American Consulate. The Consular officer asked him questions like, do you speak English (he answered no), how then do you communicate with your wife (she speaks Italian), when were you married, etc and carefully inspected the photos we provided as evidence. Everything was in place, except his missing Birth Certificate, which he lost a couple weeks before the interview. We had gotten in contact with his aunt in Ecuador so she would send another, but it hadn't arrived before he left for Naples. We were hoping for a miracle. As expected, though, his petition was approved, but the visa wouldn't be granted until he presented his original birth certificate.

We got on a train out of Naples to return home. We were disappointed because we had booked a plane ticket for Saturday, but since the visa section of the Consulate is only open on Tuesday and Wednesday, we'd have to rebook the flight, pay a penalty, etc., and wouldn't get him to the states in time to beat the price increase for his Adjustment of Status, which happens on July 30. Oh well.

On the train ride home, he hears from his brother...the mailman came to drop off the Birth Certificate, but since he wasn't there to sign for it, he'd have to pick it up at the post office. The post office in Italy closes at 1pm and he was still on the train.

We decided that he would go to the Post Office first thing on Wednesday morning to get the B.C., take the next train to Naples, arriving at 10:52. The cut off time for the Visa section is 11:00. Cutting it very close. It's funny to think that after a year of waiting, it all boiled down to minutes and seconds.

But, he made it in time.

And yet he doesn't have a visa. What happened, you ask?

First some background: The Ecuadorian government doesn't know what year Kelvin was born because a long time ago there was a system crash and some data was lost. They think it's either 1980 or 1981. The lost birth certificate said 1980, and so does his passport and all the documents we filled out. Well, the birth certificate sent by his aunt said 1981, so the Consulate wouldn't grant him the visa yet.

We have to order another birth certificate from Ecuador, have it sent, and Kelvin has to go back down to Naples.

AHHHH!!!! What we do for love!

I would go! But I think I missed something. Is the question whether he should go tomorrow or the next day? Can't he wait one day? Or is the consulate closed on Thurs and Fri? I guess if he's willing to try, I would try. Sure, you may waste some money, but won't it be exciting if he makes it? Best of luck in whatever you choose to do.

Yeah, they only let you in for visas on Tuesday and Wednesday!

UPDATE:

This could only happen to me:

Kelvin went to the interview, he was approved, but had to come back with the Birth Certificate (which still hadn't arrived). He resigned and left Naples for Rome.

I was coming to terms with the fact that I wouldn't make the June 30 deadline and I'd have to pay a E150 penalty to change flights.

On the way home, he hears from his brother that the mailman left a slip to come pick the b.c. up...it was too late, the post office had already closed at 1pm.

Now, he wants to get to the P.O. first thing tomorrow at 8:30am, get it, catch a 9:25 train that brings him to Naples Centrale at 10:52. The lady in the visa office (the first time I called) said he could arrive no later than 11:00...now, I'm not very familiar with Naples but I'm pretty sure that this is next to impossible. I called again to verify this, explaining the situation, and talked to visa lady #2, who looked into how many petitions they will have tomorrow and what time she thinks the Consul will go home. She advised me to give it a shot, that she thinks he'll still be around.

What should we do?

The risk is paying money for cabs and train tickets if they don't let him in, but we could also save a lot of money if they do!

What would you do??

Molly, big days coming up! Did the B.C. come in the mail? How's everything looking? Anything I can do? Hope everything has come together! Well wishes your way! Bree

Thanks Bree,

No, the B.C. hasn't come but we're still hoping that it will come tomorrow. Do you think the consulate will just hold the visa until they get the B.C. or will they reject our petition (hopefully it's the former!)

Kelvin had his medical today. He didn't really have a problem getting to Istituto varelli. He's staying at B&B Areamare (which he DOES NOT recommend, no hot water, dirty room, etc. At least the bathroom was clean he said.) He had to get one shot and it was E50. He made a friend at the hotel who is doing the same thing but his wife isn't USC, she's a permanent resident, so they have been helping each other out. He thinks that the people he has come across have seemed a little ignorant (for example, the owner of the B&B thought he was Japanese - he's South American). He also said that people aren't dressed very well compared to Rome, so he's sticking out. I'm a little worried about him getting mugged, he said some guy was trying to corner him.

So, tomorrow is the BIG day and I'm so nervous. I haven't been sleeping and have been forgetting to eat! Imagine me forgetting to EAT!

I can't believe we've come all this way only to lose the Birth Certificate at the last minute.

If you or anyone else in this forum has any words of encouragement I would greatly appreciate them.

Molly

mollyreyna,

thank you he is flying sometimes next month

well to answer your question, he wasn t asked about the permesso di soggiorno but he had it as well as his work certificate. I hope they won t ask your husband but I believe he should have a receipt for his filled permesso that should do

don t worry about the interview so much it will be way simpler than what you think. just make sure he is organized and know what to expect okay

best of luck

Did he have to show his original birth certificate or was a copy okay?

I've been a disaster b/c my husband lost his birth certificate and had have his aunt in Ecuador get a new one...she sent it in the mail but it still hasn't arrived yet. We have copies of the old one. I'm going crazy, I can't believe this is happening!

i am still waiting the packet 3

but why i ll find inside it the DS 230 and I 864 affidavit of support

that i have already filled ?

i have to fill them again???

ot it s enough the copy i have of them

i have to fill the ds 156 online ?? when ?

Kappa,

if you are filling for the cr1 like we are ..I wouldn t count on the embassay sending any packet...email them they will send you an interview letter and that all you need . all the document you would need are the ones sent with the ds 230 part I document instructions and download the ds 23 part II ....ds 3026 for the medical exam

that is all you need NO 156 that is for the k 3 visa not the cr1 okay

let me know if you need help finding the forms I can email them to you or give you a link okay

best of luck

CONGRATS!

That's so wonderful to hear...when is he flying to the US?

Quick question for you, do you know if they asked for your husband's Permesso di Soggiorno? (I think I remember you saying that he is a foreigner in Italy)...We're just not sure if that is something he should bring...my husband has had the "striscia" for almost a year now, and his permesso di soggiorno isn't ready yet, but it's already almost expired and he hasn't even gotten it!

Hi guys,

3sila, hope everything is going well, I know today and tomorrow are very important for you, please give all of us details!

My husband's interview is in one week. We have yet to pay the 100 dollars at Banco Nazionale di Lavoro. What does he have to say when he goes there? (In italian, please!) Does he fill in a form, or just simply tell them that he has to pay the visa fee?

Thanks!

Molly

Yowza.........I think you are cutting it way too close on those travel dates. In Jamaica, it takes at least 4-5 BUSINESS days for them to deliver the visa. You are counting on receiving yours in basically 3, since the 28th is a Saturday (and my birthday!!!)

Good luck to you on that.

Happy birthday in advance!

Okay, this is the third time I'm posting this question, since my head is in the clouds today and I keep posting in the wrong place.

I'm looking into refundable plane tickets. The interview is on the 23 and 24 of July, and I wanted to buy the plane ticket for the 28th. What about the brown envelope? Is it given upon return of the passport with visa? Or is it mailed at a later date?

I found a good deal on the ticket (by good deal in July, I mean 1000 euros) and I wanted to book as soon as possible.

Thanks for helping.

You can ask to see if the consulate will let you pickup the visa like we did (see below) and if they allow it, then they should give you the brown envelope right then, if they mail it you will be cutting it close.

I know at Naples you usually get the visa the day of or the day after the interview. However, since the Medical is the day before, would the brown envelope be ready? I guess I'm not sure exactly what goes inside of it...is it results from the medical tests done?

Hi, I posted this in the Moving to America forum, but maybe it's better here since it is country-specific...

What is the brown envelope and when do you get it?

I wanted to buy (refundable) plane tickets already, and I need to know how long it takes to get this mysterious envelope. With an interview date of July 24, I was hoping to buy a July 28 ticket. Is this completely out of the question?

Thanks!

Hi all,

I know that it is strongly recommended to NOT buy a plane ticket until the visa is in hand, but I found a good deal. Plus, I'm buying a refundable ticket so I can change the date if need be.

The interview is on July 24 and the plane takes off on July 28.

What is this I hear of a "brown envelope"? Is it given at the medical exam, or is it sent to the benificiaries home in the mail? I'm wondering if we'll have to wait for this in the mail before he leaves.

I just want to make sure before I buy the ticket.

Thanks everyone!

how much is the cost for the doctor visit ?

how much are the fee for the visa cr1 to pay during the days in naples?

they ask all in cash rigth???

thank u

Hi kappa! And how are you?

This info is more specific in packet 3 which will arrive about 1 month before the interview.

The cost of the Medical Exam is 180 Euros. Extra vaccines are anywhere from 7 to 10 to 21 Euros extra each. My husband took 2 extra, tetanus and one for Morbilla if I remember right. And the total was 235 Euros.

The Visa fee on the day of the interview was 380 United States Dollars Cash. I believe it was also possible to pay at the Consulate in Euros also.

Yes, all cash.

Soon I'll leave a more detailed post on our DCF Italy Experience, I'll be sure to let you know when I've completed it.

Hope everyone is well! Things sure are great here now that we have his visa!

Breezy

Hi all:

To summarize, all costs for interview (not including train tickets, hotels, and food) are:

1. $100 (paid to Banca Nazionale di Lavoro) for non-immigrant visa application fee as noted in Packet 3 (Not sure if this only applies to K-3 or to everyone)

2. E180 for medical exam + extra money for vaccinations

3. Another $380 for another Visa fee on day of interview??? (Does this apply to K-3 too?)

4. ???? Cost of taxi from hotel to medical examination doctor ????

Being able to wake up every morning and see the one you love....priceless

Can you confirm?

DCF Italy Breezy's Checklist for Husband's Interview:

Just wanted to put this in here for any future filers! Hope its helpful!

Link: http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=65707

Dear Breezy:

I am finding your post very useful as I am gathering all of my husband's stuff for the interview. I had a couple questions for you though...

1. - Statement from the Bene saying that no military, court, or divorce applied to him - IS THIS NECESSARY? Or can I simply omit the documents as they don't apply?

2. - Stato di Famiglia - what is this and is it necessary? I remember my husband had to get this from Ecuador before we got married.

3. Most of the letters sent to my husband have the return address with my nickname (Molly). Do you think I should include them or will this through the consular officer off?

Thank you in advance for sharing your wisdom.

oops forgot this:

Documents:

Passports of those attending the interview, and it must be the kind valid in the U.S.A. and must be valid for at least 8 months after the interview date.

The Birth Certificate: they ask for the certificato di nascita originale o copia autenticata di ciascuna persona il cui nome compaia nella richiesta di visto, inclusa la persona che ha presentato l'atto di richiamo. Il certificato di nascita deve essere presentato per tutti i figli non sposati, di eta inferiore a 21 anni, anche se non desiderano per il momento immigrare. Il certificate deve riportate la data ed il luogo di nascita nonche i nomi di entrambi i genitori, e deve inoltre indicare che si tratta di un estratto dall'anagrafe ufficiale.

So we took my Orginal B.C. and a copy for them, and took my husbands B.C. articolo 3 and an estratto di nascita articolo 3 orginal and copy.

Certificati di Polizia: the origional and the copy, where they lived for 6 months or more in their home country or in the country of their actual residence.

Sentenze del tribunale e rapporti delle autorita carcerarie

Document militari, una copia autenticata di un certificato rilasciato dalle autorita.

Fotografie: 4 foto a colori su fondo bianco, carte lucida. ripreso di fronte, orecchie ben visibili.

(we did ours 5 x 5 and asked for the passport demensions you can check the uscis web site for details)

Garanzie di sostentamento: Form I864 for the petitioner and the joint sponsor if needed.

Certificati di matrimonio: presentare copia autenticata del certificato di matrimonio con il timbro o sigillo dell autorita competente per il relascio. So you need the orginal and a copy. and any divorce papers.

traduzioni: tutti documenti in una lingua che non sia inglese o italiano, devono essere translated into english.

and thanks for the well wishes.

Sorry im so unorganized, long day another long story, going to bed now. lol

breezy

Hi Breezy:

thanks for all the valuable information...

I have a question about the certificato di matrimonio...I got mine and had an Apostille placed on it, but that was a looonnng time ago. Do you think I'll have to get a more recent one printed? I can't remember the name of the place that handles certificati di matrimonio.

Thank you!

So when are you two lovebirds flying home?