dbzman

June 14, 2008

I am sorry that it has been so long since I posted on the site but I had some rough luck in April and I am just now getting back on track.

I had to have a pace maker in April; about the same time that my wife finally arrived in America from Japan. It was a total surprise for her!

In a previous post I promised to tell about our moving service after my wife’s items arrived in the US. They finally arrived a few weeks back and everything was in great shape. No container damage anywhere.

I am unsure what she paid but I can find out if anyone is interested.

Good luck everyone!

:dance:

April 20, 2008

NVC finally got our case on April 15th!
I just found out on Friday night as they must not update their phone system database right away, or maybe it just took them a while to get our case entered after they received it.

I am not sure that we would be able to do this anyway but can a beneficiary come to visit while you are at the NVC? I know its possible when you are at the USCIS but I think I remember seeing a post here that said you can't when you get to NVC.

Thanks for any responses!

My wife came in but our documents were at the USCIS at the time. From what I have seen on the site it is hit or miss of they let the beneficiary enter or not. It seems to depend on a few factors:

1. The enter officer who they talk to

2. The amount of evidence that they bring and its type (if asked for this)

3. What is happening at the time of entry (terrorist alert level, etc)

I have heard that if the person is refused entry then they will have to file some sort of exemption form. It can be very problematic if they are refused entry.

Please be careful….

:star:

April 8, 2008

'Justin and Masako'

The moving company is called:

The moving company name is “NIPPON EXPRESS CO.,LTD”. 日本通運にっぽんつううん Nippon tsuuun

My wife is the one who chose them (since she is much smarter than I am); I should know how well they did their job by the end of the month.

:thumbs:

April 8, 2008

We finally received our paper NOA2 on Friday (April 4th, 2008). I am really hoping for the NVC to be quick as well!
On another note, what companies have people used for moving from Japan to the US? We are starting to look around.

Thanks,

My wife arrives in the US on the 20th of this month and she is packing now.

I will ask her what moving company that she used and I will post how well they did their job after her stuff arrives here.

It has been a long journey but she will finally be with me!!!

:dance:

March 31, 2008

Hi Japan filers, I have a question.
What kinds of questions did you get at the embassy? please let me know. I am sooo worried. I met my fiance at high school during my exchange student time. And since then, we are together. I went to the same college with him and decided to marry.

My wife had her Interview today.

They asked her only three questions:

1. How did we meet

2. When did we first meet in person

3. What is the age of my son (I have a 17 year old son)

That is all that they asked. My wife said that the person who interviewed her was very nice.

She had to go up to the counter three times:

1. To submit the required documents

2. For finger prints

3. The last was the interview

My wifes visa arrives in one week!!!!!!

:dance: :dance: :dance:

March 29, 2008

Last night (Friday, March 28th, 2008) Masako and I got an email from USCIS CRIS, our I-130 petition is approved and our NOA2 has been mailed!
I just had to tell everyone!!!!!

Fantastic News!

Now comes NVC....

Good Luck!

:thumbs:

March 23, 2008

I finally got approved on the 7th of March. I am so excited to move to the second step. Anyways, what kinds of questions did you get at the embassy? I am a little concerned about questions because some questions can be so tricked. Like my fiance did not really propose me. We have been together for almost 7 years and the summer of 2006 when I graduated from American university, we talked about and kind of came up with marriage. and we often talked about future life which imply our marriage. So if the interviewer asks me when we engaged, it will be hard for me to answer.
Please let me know some sort of advice.

Hello,

My wife has her interview on the 31st of this month. I will ask her to write down the questions that they ask her and post them on this site.

Good luck!

:thumbs:

March 16, 2008

We use skype.com to talk for free over the internet. All you need is a headset. Webcam is optional.
Anyone file for K1 in December (California CIS center) and hear anything back yet? Just curious.

k1visajapan,

How is your reception?

Mine is not so good. We use Skype every weekrnd but we have trouble with reception.

:crying:

March 12, 2008

Thank you for confirming that Japan is on an appointment processing now.
I'm new here and my case is still pending at USCIS. Please give us information on what other documents the NVC will require, for future preparation.

Thank you and Goodluck.

I was just talking to an NVC phone operator today about another matter, but he confirmed that japan just recently switched to appointment processing and that i needed to gather all the additional original documentation.

Sarudoshi,

I am not totally sure what you will need for an appointment post. My wife and I were approved, and the documents sent from NVC to Tokyo, before they changed.

What she has to have for her interview in Tokyo this month is the following:

1. Part 2 of the DS-230

2. Her Medical Exam (sealed from the clinic)

3. Her police certificate

4. Her family registry

I will double check with her tonight but I believe that is all. That may be what you will now have to send to the NVC in the US.

I think, at the least, items 1, 2, and 3 above will have to be sent to the NVC.

We were told by Tokyo that the Medical Exam is good for a year. If you are certain that you will be finished before that time she could get it early; but I would double check with NVC about that.

The police would not give her a police certificate until she could provide a document from Tokyo showing that she needed it.

Sorry that I could not be of more help.

Good luck!

:thumbs:

March 11, 2008

Hello everyone,

I just wanted to post the link the information:

http://travel.state.gov/visa/immigrants/info/info_3734.html

Good luck everyone!!!!!

March 9, 2008

Hello everyone!

Does anyone know about the NVC changing the Tokyo Embassy from A DCF to an appointment post?

I just saw this on the NVC website:

National Visa Center - Appointment Post List

For certain U.S. Embassies and Consulates General, the National Visa Center (NVC) provides additional document collection and review, and schedules the cases for interview. The Department of State refers to these embassies and consulates as Appointment Posts.

For immigrant visa cases assigned to an Appointment Post, the NVC will collect the fees, affidavit of support, civil documents and police certificates, as required. When the case is complete, NVC will schedule an appointment for an interview with a consular officer. At the time the appointment is scheduled, the NVC will send an appointment letter to all interested parties (applicant, petitioner, and agent/attorney of record, if applicable) notifying them of the date, time, and location of the interview; and forward the petition to the appropriate embassy/consulate.

As of February 21, 2008, the following US Embassies and Consulate Generals are provided with this support:

….

TAL Tallinn, Estonia

TBL Tbilisi, Georgia

TGG Tegucigalpa, Honduras

THT Tashkent, Uzbekistan

TIA Tirana, Albania

TKY Tokyo, Japan

TLV Tel Aviv, Israel T

NS Tunis, Tunisia

Etc, etc,….

This must mean that Japan filers will have to send more documentation to the NVC. The change took affect on Feb 21. I have heard of some Japanese filers who have had to send more documentation to the NVC.

Mike and Chizuru

:crying:

March 6, 2008

I contacted my Senator (Russ Feingold) back in November and he sent back a letter with a Congressional Inquiry form. Just about a week ago I sent it (the Congressional Inquiry Form) back to them with a letter describing our current progress in the immigration system and explaining about my wife's impending visit. They of course warned that she may be denied entry when she visits and proceded to tell me that they could do the inquiry but that since we are well within normal processing times that it probably wouldn't do much good. She (our caseworker at the Senator's office) also told me that they were only allowed to do an Inquiry for a case once every two months. That sounds a bit odd to me, I am not sure who's rule that is but I intend to find out. Anyway, coming to the point, she also mentioned that the only way that a petition could be expedited is if there was some dire need like medical reasons or something. Basically it needed to be an emergency or because of some extreme hardship. The first thing I thought of after I was off the phone with her was that, to me, my wife and I suffer emotional distress and/or hardship from being apart for so long. I was thinking of calling her back and asking if that was a valid reason to expedite my case. What do all of you think?
I am joking a bit, but still what are your thoughts? It is absolutely true that being separated from our loved ones for such a long time causes us, and them, emotional stress that we would not otherwise be experiencing (at least not for being apart). There are even couples here who have come close to loosing, or have lost, their marriage because of the emotional distress that one or both are suffering from being apart. If it were not for the length and, perhaps worse the not knowing how long, those couples may not have come close to the brink of loosing their marriage or having lost it.

This is kind of a vent as my wife and I are currently quite depressed about our current situation. Especially my wife. I try my best to keep my hopes up and search for any way to speed things along and of course I try to cheer her up, but its hard when you can't even give your loved one a hug and hold them close and tell them its all going to be alright. Frankly there have been times when I am scared about loosing her because of the immigration hassles and slowness. And as I said before, its the lack of any time line to look forward to. If it was some specific time line like 6 months or something then at least you could look forward to it and know you were getting closer. But when there is no time line, there is no date to look forward to, its difficult to keep your hopes up. When there is no end in sight, its like you start loosing your hope. You never see any progress, all you see is a never ending journey where you will be separated from the one you love. You want to run to the end of that road but it just keeps going and going, no end in sight, just a never ending road that goes around and around like a mobius strip.

Sorry. I hope this doesn't depress anyone. I would hate to add to the stress I know you all must be feeling for the same reasons I am. Just needed to vent.

I hope we can get some more good news on this thread soon. And I certainly wouldn't mind if it was from me.

'Justin and Masako' ,

I just read you post. I have been hard at work on my wife’s immigration so I have not been on line in a while. Don’t worry about the Immigration trip. I started the paperwork for my wife an I in June and she has her interview on March 31st.

It has been a long journey but much shorter than some other peoples.

My wife is worth the wait. Immigration seems to take longer than it use to but it is still less than a year for most.

My wife came to visit me in America for three months (June - August) and she had no trouble at the port of entry. I hope that your wife will arrive with no trouble.

Good Luck!

February 7, 2008

I just called the NVC and they sent our documents to the Tokyo Embassy on Feb 6th! I have a few questions that I hope someone can help me with.

How long does it take for them to contact the beneficiary after Tokyo receives the documents?

Who sets up the interview; the embassy or the beneficiary?

Will my wife get a packet of documents or just a simple notice?

My wife has already gotten the medical exam out of the way and she still needs the Police certificate/report. She is waiting for notification from Tokyo before she does anything else.

Thanks everyone!

:dance:

February 1, 2008

I have finished the NVC paperwork and it will soon be sent to the Tokyo Consulate for processing. My question is:

What happens when she arrives in the US under the Immigration Visa?

During entry do they record that she has entered the country? Is that how the Government is notified that she is here at to go ahead and issue her SSN? (I marked that she needed one on the DS-230).

What about a International Drivers License. Has any one gotten one and what does it allow?

Thanks!

January 31, 2008

I have update my info ***CASE COMPLETE***!!!!!!

Member Name--------------NOA2-------DS-3032/I-864---Received IV----DS-230------NVC Complete---JSC---Days

sjmartins -------------- 04/25/07 ---- 06/18/07 ---- 07/20/07 ---- 08/25/07 ---- 09/25/07 --- No -- 153

Mononoke28 ------------- 05/03/07 ---- 06/02/07 ---- 06/22/07 ---- 07/23/07 ---- 08/08/07 --- Yes - 97

jigi ------------------- 05/08/07 ---- 06/16/07 ---- 07/29/07 ---- 09/24/07 ---- 10/12/07 --- No -- 157

knowledge -------------- 05/09/07 ---- 06/04/07 ---- 07/xx/07 ---- 08/22/07 ---- 10/05/07 --- No -- 149

nyseness --------------- 05/16/07 ---- 06/18/07 ---- 08/11/07 ---- Pending

mikeandlani ------------ 05/21/07 ---- 07/02/07 ---- 08/04/07 ---- 10/12/07 ---- 11/23/07 --- No - 185

khanshahid ------------- 05/24/07 ---- 06/25/07 ---- 07/27/07 ---- 08/24/07 ---- 09/11/07 --- Yes - 110

KayArt ----------------- 05/24/07 ---- 07/03/07 ---- 07/27/07 ---- 08/13/07 ---- 08/30/07 --- Yes - 98

MegDan ----------------- 05/31/07 ---- 07/02/07 ---- 07/28/07 ---- 09/01/07 ---- 10/20/07 --- No -- 142

hhk3 ------------------- 05/31/07 ---- 06/25/07 ---- 07/21/07 ---- 07/30/07 ---- 08/14/07 --- Yes - 75

Jasmin ----------------- 06/01/07 ---- 06/18/07 ---- 07/20/07 ---- 08/27/07 ---- 09/17/07 --- No -- 108

Singha ----------------- 06/01/07 ---- 06/25/07 ---- 07/19/07 ---- 08/13/07 ---- 08/28/07 --- No -- 88

Trailmix --------------- 06/05/07 ---- 07/02/07 ---- 08/02/07 ---- 08/21/07 ---- 11/30/07 --- Yes - 178

CHERRI1 ---------------- 06/06/07 ---- 07/02/07 ---- 08/02/07 ---- 08/27/07 ---- 10/05/07 --- No -- 121

Geist & Stabu ---------- 06/07/07 ---- 07/09/07 ---- 08/02/07 ---- 09/10/07 ---- 09/25/07 --- Yes - 110

vylex ------------------ 06/12/07 ---- 07/02/07 ---- 07/27/07 ---- 08/13/07 ---- 08/27/07 --- Yes - 76

Nilz07 ----------------- 06/12/07 ---- 07/16/07 ---- 08/20/07 ---- 09/27/07 ---- 11/29/07 --- N/A-- 170

evahamilton ------------ 06/12/07 ---- 07/09/07 ---- 08/09/07 ---- 09/08/07 ---- 09/20/07 --- No -- 100

vonicks ---------------- 06/13/07 ---- 07/16/07 ---- xx/xx/07 ---- xx/xx/07 ---- 10/30/07 --- No -- 139

dillydally ------------- 06/14/07 ---- 07/16/07 ---- 08/10/07 ---- 09/06/07 ---- 11/21/07 --- No -- 159

rika60607 -------------- 06/14/07 ---- 07/16/07 ---- 08/18/07 ---- 08/28/07 ---- 09/17/07 --- Yes - 95

Abrar & Huma ----------- 06/15/07 ---- 07/16/07 ---- 08/15/07 ---- 09/19/07 ---- 10/04/07 --- No -- 111

endless ---------------- 06/18/07 ---- 07/24/07 ---- 09/10/07 ---- 10/01/07 ---- 11/16/07 --- Yes - 151

S & J ------------------ 06/19/07 ---- 07/16/07 ---- 08/17/07 ---- 09/25/07 ---- 10/25/07 --- No -- 128

chakaas ---------------- 06/20/07 ---- 07/16/07 ---- 08/27/07 ---- 09/18/07 ---- 10/02/07 --- N/A - 104

vutapson --------------- 06/28/07 ---- 07/16/07 ---- 08/25/07 ---- 09/25/07 ---- 10/11/07 --- No -- 105

nbrown0247 ------------- 06/28/07 ---- 08/18/07 ---- 09/11/07 ---- 10/01/07 ---- 11/08/07 --- Yes - 133

RandyandRina ----------- 07/02/07 ---- 08/06/07 ---- 08/29/07 ---- 09/10/07 ---- 10/10/07 --- Yes - 100

LadyJane --------------- 07/03/07 ---- 08/06/07 ---- 09/06/07 ---- 09/24/07 ---- 11/08/07 --- Yes - 128

RickOlechka ------------ 07/04/07 ---- 07/17/07 ---- 08/20/07 ---- 10/02/07 ---- Pending

michael_nc ------------- 07/12/07 ---- 08/27/07 ---- 09/08/07 ---- 09/28/07 ---- 10/26/07 --- Yes - 106

Z & S ------------------ 07/16/07 ---- 07/30/07 ---- 08/27/07 ---- 08/27/07 ---- 10/16/07 --- No -- 92

PC_Whisperer ----------- 07/27/07 ---- 08/20/07 ---- 09/22/07 ---- 10/10/07 ---- 11/20/07 --- Yes - 116

Mariya ----------------- 08/07/07 ---- 09/10/07 ---- 10/18/07 ---- 11/27/07 ---- 12/13/07 --- ?? -- 128

jeta&preeti ------------ 08/15/07 ---- 09/10/07 ---- 10/15/07 ---- 11/29/07 ---- 12/10/07 --- No -- 117

Ereshkigal ------------- 08/17/07 ---- 09/03/07 ---- 10/05/07 ---- 11/02/07 ---- Pending

natashenika ------------ 08/23/07 ---- 09/10/07 ---- 10/02/07 ---- 11/02/07 ---- 12/20/07 --- No -- 89

Jaxguy/KIDS ------------ 09/14/07 ---- 10/02/07 ---- 10/27/07 ---- 11/05/07 ---- 11/30/07 --- Yes - 77

djturbo ---------------- 09/17/07 ---- 10/08/07 ---- 11/10/07 ---- 12/07/07 ---- 01/04/08 --- Yes - 109

ze22-------------------- 09/18/07 ---- 10/08/07 ---- 11/20/07 ---- 12/19/07 ---- 01/18/08 --- No - 122

MrsJibowu--------------- 09/23/07 ---- 10/15/07 ---- 12/19/07 ---- Pending

Wes&Steffi ------------- 10/10/07 ---- 12/14/07 ---- 12/14/07 ---- 12/27/07 ---- 01/10/08 --- ??? - 92

amberlynn -------------- 10/15/07 ---- 10/29/07 ---- 11/24/07 ---- 01/04/08 ---- Pending

dbzman ----------------- 10/17/07 ---- 11/29/07 ---- 12/13/07 ---- 12/27/07 ---- 01/28/08 --- No - 89

KevFabi ---------------- 11/01/07 ---- 12/03/07 ---- 12/13/07 ---- xx/xx/07 ---- 12/26/07 --- Yes - 55

mgk -------------------- 11/07/07 ---- 12/03/07 ---- 12/17/07 ---- 12/24/07 ---- Pending

scorpio68 -------------- 11/15/07 ---- Pending

wahrania --------------- 11/26/07 ---- 12/17/07 ---- 12/17/07 ---- Pending

calamitka -------------- 12/06/07 ---- 01/04/08 ---- Pending

mtracksport ------------ 12/11/07 ---- Pending

GajicGarcia ------------ 12/13/07 ---- Pending

KTG -------------------- 12/14/07 ---- Pending

simple_melanie --------- 12/18/07 ---- Pending

jynxNdragnfly ---------- 01/02/08 ---- Pending

Reeja ------------------ 01/08/08 ---- Pending

his_sunshine ----------- 01/17/08 ---- Pending

Nine month moving average of "Days" counted from "NOA2" between 02/13/07 and 11/13/07: 104 days

'Days' field represents days between NOA2 and completion at NVC

Link to historical timelines in this thread

January 29, 2008

Just wanted to let everyone know…..

CASE COMPLATED ON JAN 28th !!!!!

:dance: :dance: :dance:

January 8, 2008

Thanks for everyones replies one this!
I am glad to hear that it shouldn't be an issue.

I don't think that it will be a problem.

My wife is also very good at finding my mistakes.

Don't worry, I think that it will be OK.

:dance:

January 8, 2008

Hi all,
I have insurance though my work and I am attempting to add my wife to my policy as it has to be done within three months of our marriage. The insurance company seems to be trying to come up with any reasons they can to avoid covering her. She still lives in Japan and works there. She has insurance through her work (though she is not covered when she visits the US). She is (obviously) not a citizen and she doesn't have a SSN, and is of course not eligible for one until the I-130 process is done.

Has anyone in a similar circumstance been able to get their spouse insurance? I don't want her to have to keep buying travel insurance when she comes for visits and when she quits her work she will have no insurance at all. Though she won't quit until she gets her visa.

Any thoughts?

Thanks,

MODS: I wasn't sure what category to put this into so if its in the wrong place I am sorry and feel free to move it.

Justin and Masako,

I married my Japanese wife in April of 2007 and was able to get her on my Insurance soon after. I had to have a translated copy of the marriage certificate to prove that we were married. It did not seem to be a problem for me after that.

Of course you are at the mercy of your insurance company and your Human Resource Manager. If the Resource Manager will help it becomes much easier.

My insurance is with Bluecross Blueshield of New York.

Good Luck!

January 5, 2008

I have update my information.....

Member Name--------------NOA2-------DS-3032/I-864---Received IV----DS-230------NVC Complete---JSC---Days

sjmartins -------------- 04/25/07 ---- 06/18/07 ---- 07/20/07 ---- Pending

Mononoke28 ------------- 05/03/07 ---- 06/02/07 ---- 06/22/07 ---- 07/23/07 ---- 08/08/07 --- Yes - 97

jigi ------------------- 05/08/07 ---- 06/16/07 ---- 07/29/07 ---- 09/24/07 ---- 10/12/07 --- No -- 157

knowledge -------------- 05/09/07 ---- 06/04/07 ---- 07/xx/07 ---- 08/22/07 ---- 10/05/07 --- No -- 149

nyseness --------------- 05/16/07 ---- 06/18/07 ---- 08/11/07 ---- Pending

alongjourney ----------- 05/16/07 ---- 06/25/07 ---- 08/13/07 ---- Pending