B&Gloria

4 hours ago, K.T said:

We had the interview yesterday and while heading back to home got the update that "New card is being produced"

Congratulations!!

Are you checking on the case status area of the USCIS website with the MSC number?  Thanks!

Hi Everyone,

Just wanted to check in and say that I believe the interview went good. The interviewer did not say we were approved nor denied, but I do feel she gave me a few hints by mentioning advice/tips about our future in the US as a couple and advised me to not renew the EAD/AP card that was expiring in 2 weeks; she said to just wait. She was actually really nice in my opinion. My wife didn't like the process because she said they used an interpreter over the phone from USCIS and they had terrible Spanish, they translated too literal and it was confusing. It was a 46 minute phone call in total. I think the interviewer and my wife where both frustrated. 

A couple of notes...

She asked for my birth certificate at the end of the interview and I told her I didn't have it...she didn't seem to care. I took my passport with me which I believe is enough and I asked her if she was able to establish my citizenship with the passport, she just said no worries and it was OK. (Hope this helps someone in the future).

I also showed her my savings account, cars we own together, and statements for the business. When she asked why I made so little money...basically said the company pays for everything and thats where the money is at. She said she understood and went to ask for the pictures. 

I think it went smooth...I'm anxious to see the green card in the mail in a few weeks hopefully!

Anyone know if there is a way to check if the green card was approved? I checked the case status online with the MSC number we have and it says "interview was scheduled"...would that be the area where it shows up as Green Card sent?

Thanks!

Hi All,

Tomorrow is our AOS interview to finally finish the last step (almost) of this whole k1 visa journey!!

I am loosing sleep over 2 possible problems and want to get some peace of mind...

1. I am a U.S. Citizen, born here. I noticed that the Notice for our interview says to bring birth certificates but I can't find my birth certificate anywhere (last time I saw it I was a kid)...would it be OK to just show them my US passport? I mean it must be obvious I'm a US citizen if we have gotten up to this stage in the process but I'm stressing because I see a lot of posts of people saying they took both of their birth certificates (petitioner & beneficiary)

2. My last Taxes (2019) shows that I made $1,000 USD above 125% poverty level. It's very close to the minimum requirement...do you think I could have issues with it being too close? Could I still get rejected as a sponsor or would they have already said something if that was issue when I sent in the AOS packet? I have 3 paid off cars and a large savings, would it help to show that also to the officer? Do they care if my wife works or just try and show as much about myself financially? 

Everything else I seem to have in order and ready.

Any advice is appreciated!! thank you!!

2 minutes ago, Ayrton said:

As long as the medical was completed with no issues and vaccination was completed, no need for a new medical. Sending DS3025 with AOS is optional, since not everyone receives a copy of it.

Thanks for the reply. I was stressing over this issue since we have no copy of the medical exam and vaccination (USCIS has it). I guess we are good to go for the interview in a few weeks!

Hi All,

My Fiancee did her medical exams in her home country before coming to the US. When she arrived at POE she gave the IO her seal envelope with the results. 

We filed AOS after 2 months of her being in the US (She came on a K1 visa) and we did NOT send any medical exam information in our AOS packet. 

The part we are confused about is that the NOA that we received says that we need to take some sort of proof of the medical exam. I am confused after reading multiple posts on here, it. seems everyone takes some sort of form or proof of the exams/vaccinations with them but we have none because it was given the officer at POE.

Does any one have any advice/tips?

Thanks!

UPDATE: I re-checked my 1040. I am self employed and own an LLC. On Line 6 (Total Income) it says $22,350. 

The 125% above poverty income requirement is at $21,138 for 2 people (me and my wife). This seems to be my minimum.

I think I might be fine but I just need to figure out if this is the right number. The other option is line number 7 which says "Adjusted gross income) which is $20,700. If this is what I need to put down then I'm in hot water.

Any opinions?

Thanks in advance.

Hello,

I have the entire packet ready to send to the USCIS but I just checked my tax return and it shows that I made $20,500 USD in the US last year. I then checked 125% of the poverty level and it shows that the minimum is $21,500. What should I do? I'm a bit stressed now. I have around 5k in my savings. 

My mom makes $85k a year but is already a sponsor for her husband who is now a US Citizen (did a K1 as well and went through the whole process). Could she just sponsor my wife? co-sponsor? 

Also, my next problem is that I just have my 2018 and 2017 tax return. 2016 I was living with my mom and didn't work (traveling). I checked the box that I don't have the 3 last years tax returns...but left an explanation that I didn't work in 2016.

Any advice?

1 hour ago, geowrian said:

1. No. SSN is not even required and many people don't get one before filing.
2. No. Your status as a USC was already established via the petition.
3. Just a copy of the NOA2 is fine. a NOA1 only indicates that a form was filed.

A new medical is not required if the I-485 is sent within 1 year of the K-1 medical exam. If the vaccination worksheet was marked as complete as well, then no I-693 is required at all.

Either way, the I-693 is not required at the time of filing anyway.

Thank You!!! I appreciate it.

Last 2 questions if you or anyone else knows:

1. In the I-485, I-765 and I-131 packets should I include a copy of a marriage certificate? I have 2 certified copies that I ordered when we got married, should I just photocopy this with my scanner and put 1 in each packet? Or does it have to be like an original copy? Sort of confused on this one.

2. I have only a 2018 and 2017 tax return but not 2016. Should I just say I don't have the last 3 years and put those 2 in the affidavit of support?

Thanks!

Hi Everyone,

Now it's time to submit AOS. I've been watching YouTube videos and reading on the forums all day to see what needs to be sent in and I've started to notice there is some conflicting information. I see some people send way more documents and some send a lot less; I really just want to send whats required. I'm curious to find out the following:

1. Is it necessary to submit a copy of her SS card in any of the packets?

2. Is it necessary for me to send my birth certificate in the Affidavit of Support?

3. Do I need to send both NOA 1 and NOA 2? 

My biggest question is about Form I-693 (Report of Medical Examination and Vaccination Record). My Fiancee did her Medical Examination abroad before her interview; it was done on November 20th, so it still hasn't reached 1-year yet. Do I need to send this form in? Do I need to send her medical exam in? I'm confused on this part.

This is how I have the packet set up so far...

I see that this law will take effect on October 15th. I am planning on sending my packet in on October 8th (Tuesday). Should I send my AOS packet with the new form required and proof of health insurance? 

Hi Everyone,

My Fiancee arrived here in the US about 20 days ago. Everything has been going smoothly and we are happy to finally be together again!

After searching the forums I saw that it was advisable to apply for a SNN after 2 weeks so we waited 2 whole weeks and went to the SS Administration office last Friday. The girl only asked if we had an "original I-94" and I told her we only had the I-94 that we printed from the website. She then said gave us a document (in Spanish) after 10 minutes of typing. The document says that they need to verify some documents to check her immigration status and it could take up to 4 weeks. The only part we did not understand was what are we supposed to do next. A.) Go back in 4 weeks and see if the card is issued? or B.) Just wait for it to come into the mail after 4 weeks?

Does anyone know if it really takes that long for a SSN to be generated? It's been a while since this whole immigration process has made me nervous but now I'm really worried about her getting a SSN so she can open a US Bank Account and get a US Drivers license. 

After we get married we then change her name at the SS Administration office then file AOS? Does anyone know how long it takes for the AOS?

Thanks!!

On 4/11/2019 at 4:48 PM, Savvy said:

For scheduling the K1 interview, did you have to wait until you heard back from the embassy? I saw online when I checked the NVC that I'm ready to schedule an appointment, but I haven't heard from the embassy to get a consular letter?

The options that would likely apply to me are:

I have received a letter from theh consular section with instructions to register or shedule a K visa appointment.

or

I have received a letter from the consular section with instructions to schedule an immigrant visa appointment"

 

https://ais.usvisa-info.com/en-cl/iv/information/iv_services

This step is done after you receive the appointment date from the Embassy (on the US Visa Appointment Services website). The embassy will assign to you a date for the interview. Chile is not like the other 90% of the embassies. I did it this way and my GF got told at the embassy to leave; they said it was not valid and she didn't have an interview date. We were really confused but now looking back and understanding the process it makes sense. 

The appointment letter took 4 months for us to arrive. Our paperwork was set to "Ready" and we didn't receive the official letter until March. 

Just a lot of patience...eventually it will all work out! buena suerte!

On 3/29/2019 at 7:13 AM, Savvy said:

How did everything go?

Did they send packet 3 to your fiance in chile? OR to you

It has gone OK. We finally recieved an appointment date. Even though they told me to not contact them, I decided to do so because it's been too long. And they "thanked" me for contacting them and set up an interview. All the information was sent to me, the embassy hasn't sent her information directly. 

Hey Everyone.

I've tried posting about the issues with my process but haven't received very much advice yet on past posts regarding the specific embassy (small country). Hopefully I can get some better ideas on this post and make a decision on my further action on this immigration mess.

We are applying for a K1 visa in the Santiago Embassy (Chile). We did everything right, went through the whole process correctly...our packet was sent from the NVC to the Embassy the first week of November. Today is the first week of March. It's been 4 months and we haven't heard a single thing from the embassy. My Fiancee filled out the DS-160, paid the appointment fee, did the medical exam and showed up at the embassy only to be told that we must wait until the Embassy assigns to us an appointment date and time. Fine. But it's been 4 months already and they haven't contacted us. I emailed them in January and they said that they have hundreds of cases and eventually they will call. But how long is too long the question? 

I see that everyone on here that had their papers sent from the NVC to the Embassy are already in the US with their Fiancee!

I talked with my lawyer and he said there isn't much we can do, just send a formal letter to the embassy from his law firm but he said it may get a negative reaction from the embassy employees. 

I'm frustrated, I don't understand how come hundreds of K1's are being approved and we are in this situation. We are going to be at the 1 year mark since we sent in the papers in and we still haven't received an appointment! I know there is 1 other person on here that applied 1 month after us and they have a scheduled interview for next week at the Santiago embassy! Which means they don't even go in the order the packets are received. Nuts! BS

I tried searching the forums but can't find out if this is a problem because there is less funding for the State Department employees (meaning this is normal) or if this is a specific issue to our case only? 

Does anyone on here have any piece of advice? How much longer should I wait until the lawyer sends a letter? Should we just get married in Chile and file for a spouse visa in her home country? (And then wait another year?!). 

Our packet arrived at the embassy 3 months ago (early November). From what I've read online and what my lawyer told me, this step was supposed to be the fastest! I emailed the embassy about 3 weeks ago and got a simple response saying that they "have hundreds of cases" and I need to just wait for them to contact. 

I found another person on this forum that is applying for the same K1 visa at the same embassy. Their packet was received by the embassy 1 month after ours and they have already received their interview date for March! (from what their timeline says).

Now I'm confused.

When the embassy gets these "packets" are they checked in order they are received? If so, how could someones application get ahead of ours if it arrived 1 month after?

Does anyone know what might be happening to our cases? Possible issues?

I think I'm going to wait all of February for a response, if not, I'll have our lawyer send the embassy a formal letter asking what we need to do. I'm not sure if it'll piss them off but this is starting to get very frustrating. 

I appreciate any advice!!

9 minutes ago, Greenbaum said:

I hope you have flight insurance that you can change the ticket without much of a penalty. As things are going very wrong each step of the way I am not sure that I would bet you will finish before the flight. Just my 2 cents.

Yeah...this whole thing is starting to get frustrating. 

They responded to my email and said we did NOT have an interview date for today and that we will be contacted for scheduling. I emailed them back now with a copy of the payment for the K1 Visa Application Fee and the Date of the interview for today at 9am. How can they say we don't have an interview scheduled for today and I have the paper and email right in front of me!  

5 minutes ago, Greenbaum said:

It's the government bureaucracy at it's finest. How frustrating this must be. I can't believe that you were able to snag and open slot and you are now being turned away. I don't see the difference of you scheduling the open spot and they scheduling "someone" for that open spot. Both are bodies that are breathing. Utterly makes no sense. I wish you the best.

This is very frustrating and it isn't the first time in the process! And you're right. I was surprised when I went to re-schedule there was an opening so soon, seemed to good to be true. I was very happy.

My Fiancee went to the doctors office 3 times! Yes 3 times. They told her to show up for her blood test without drinking/eating for 8 hours. When she showed up they asked her if she showered...confused she said "of course" then they told her to come back the next day because "your not suppose to shower before the test". I swear...this happened. Everyone I tell this story too has never heard of this requirement ever. On top of that it was a hole in the wall clinic. 

Now I'm wondering/worried when they will reply to my email and how soon will be the interview (another waiting game). I paid for flights on December 30th from Chile to LAX. Today is the 7th. It looks like it's going to be a tough to make that happen, 50/50. (I know I'm not suppose to do that without having the visa in hand....but January had flights already above $2k a piece so I had to buy cheap before they keep going up for vacation season).

Soo...After a few weeks of trying to get an interview date to pop-up on the State Visa Appointment Services website...we finally got an appointment, for the 5th of December. But since the federal government decided to close because of the ex-presidents' death, all visa appointments were cancelled. Luckily we found out the easy way (watching the news and doctors office). The US Embassy in Chile didn't bother to call or email us though. (Even though they said they would do so).

Finally I re-scheduled the appointment for my Fiancee for Friday at 9am. She showed up today and they told her we were not suppose to book the appointment through the State Visa Appointment Services website, we must send an email to them. No one ever told us this. Not once when we called to ask if we should book an appointment by phone or online were we told that it had to be by email...we were told online. Also our lawyer told us to do it online. I don't know where the mix-up is and who's lying. I which I could file a complaint...speak to a manager or something LOL

So sent an email now to the supposed email address to see when they can schedule us. 

1 minute ago, kimme79 said:

That is it for december?????  

No more appointments for Bogotá?

That cant be.  I am waiting for my case to be sent from nvc to bogota and I want an interview before new year so I can have my fiance home.  Omg! This is terrible news.

Hi -- We are doing the interview in Chile actually, not Colombia. My Fiancee IS Colombian but lives in Chile. 

On 11/19/2018 at 1:11 AM, CJlove said:

That sounds frustrating. I’m sorry you have to go through with this ordeal... We applied for CR1 so I don’t understand the K1 process all too well, but as other person commented, they are very responsive with emails. They responded the same day we emailed the embassy in Santiago, Chile. 

 

My hubby is going back to the embassy to submit an additional document next week, perhaps he can ask someone about this while he’s there?  And trust me, even if our cases are different, I understand the level of anxiety and stress. 

Finally the "nightmare" is over!

Last night I logged onto the website (US Visa Appointment Services) around midnight and 1 appointment popped up. After refreshing that page for 2 weeks and seeing the same "No Appointments Available" it was surprising to see the page change, was as exciting as when we received NOA2. Anyways, we are booked for December 5th! At least now we have a date and a possibility that she can be here before Christmas or New Year. I think it takes around 10 days for the visa to arrive at the DHL office after the visa is approved. 

Now the only stress left is hoping that the interview goes well...

Good luck next week to you booth! ☺️ Abrazo

On 11/11/2018 at 12:53 PM, hm139 said:

So how did it go? Were you able to contact the embassy and get your appointment scheduled?

Not so well. Our lawyer supposedly emailed the embassy on Friday, and so far no response. But I've checked the US Appointment Services website and there is still NO appointments available. Every single hour for more than a week now I've been checking. I do hope they let us book an appointment by email. This would give us at least a date and time so we can have something concrete. 

4 minutes ago, jan22 said:

Did you click on the "fee information" link?  Sorry -- I'm not familiar with the specifics of Santiago's process.  I n general, you can't schedule the appointment until the fee is paid.

Interesting. In the email they sent to me they said that I could pay the Visa Fee in person at the embassy.

1 minute ago, jan22 said:

Did you click on the "fee information" link?  Sorry -- I'm not familiar with the specifics of Santiago's process.

Yes I did. It opens up another window with the different costs of the different visa types. 😞

6 minutes ago, jan22 said:

Have you paid the fee?  You can't schedule the appointment until you do.  You're on Step 3 -- Payment.  Scheduling is Step 4.

The step that I'm on doesn't have any option to pay as you can see on the screen shot unless I'm missing something. After selecting where we want to pick up the visa we are taken to step 3 and there isn't any options after that. Even going to the account page and pressing "Pay Visa Fee"...we are directed to the page on my original screenshot above with no option to pay, just the message that there is no appointments available.