Mark11

All, my Brazilian fiancé and I just successfully completed the K1 interview in Rio (on Jan. 7, 2020), so I have some definitive information on scheduling the medical exams, the ASC fingerprinting, and the visa interview.  Here's what we learned (in no particular order):
Once you have received notice from NVC that your packet has been sent to the consulate and your CEAC status changes to "READY" (go to this website: https://ceac.state.gov/ceac/  and under IMMIGRANT, click on
"Check My Visa Application Status", enter your RDJ number from NVC and check your status) , do NOT wait for the consulate to email you with instructions for an interview -- the email may never come (neither my fiance' nor I received an email, and the consulate would never answer my 4 emailed status requests -- so I just scheduled it).  Instead, immediately complete and submit your DS-160, and then go to the visa appointment website (https://ais.usvisa-info.com/) and pay the fee and schedule the ASC fingerprinting and the visa interview.  NOTE:  You may need to use Chrome to schedule the interview -- I was unable to complete the visa/passport delivery address form using Internet Explorer, but it worked fine when I switched to Chrome. If you are doing your medical work in Rio, here is the shortest schedule/number of days in Rio you can do.  First, K1 visa interviews are only done on Tuesdays.  The medical analysis (xray, blood, urine) require a minimum of 2 business days to be reported to the doctor.  So plan to do all the medical work on Thursday (Thurs-Fri-Mon = 2 business days).  NOTE that only the xray actually requires an appointment (and an order from the doctor), the blood and urine are done at the same place on a walk-in basis.  Schedule your ASC fingerprinting and photographing on Friday or Monday.  Schedule your medical exam on Monday.  The doctor will give you a slip of paper confirming you completed the medical exam and then he will electronically transmit your results to the consulate and they will be available for your interview on Tuesday. So to summarize a proven minimum schedule:                  Thursday:  Xray, blood, urine
                 Friday or Monday:  ASC fingerprinting and photographing
                 Monday:  Medical exam
                 Tuesday:  Visa interview
Plan to stay in the Ipanema Beach or San Conrado Beach area, both of which are very close to the Leblon neighborhood (far southwest of downtown), which is where everything is located except the actual consulate.  All medical analysis, medical exam, and ASC fingerprinting are in Leblon.  The consulate is in downtown (far Northeast of Leblon).  About a $25 cab ride from the San Conrado Beach area to the consulate.  What I'm saying is this:  don't try to stay close to the consulate -- that's not where you'll be spending most of your time.
Time needed:  xray took about 20 minutes.  Blood and urine (same lab), took about 10 minutes.  ASC fingerprinting and photographing took about 25 minutes.  Medical exam took 25 minutes (mostly in waiting room, 10 minutes for actual exam).  Interview took about 3 hours in total.
Medical exam:  make sure you bring either (1) the interview email from the embassy (which we never got) or (2) the printed interview scheduling and payment receipt page that shows your RDJ number.  The medical secretary will demand to see proof of the consulate issuing your RDJ number.
The medical exam doctor is extremely friendly and helpful and speaks excellent English.  His secretary is, well . . . .  a little difficult.  Make sure you have all the items they request on their sheet, including the 6 tiny photographs, and proof of your RDJ number.
The medical exam office only accepts Brazilian Reis R$ 750-- no credit cards or dollars.  The xray, and blood/urine labs accept credit cards.
 
Good luck,
Mark

Thank you all sooooo much for your thoughts.
 
I will send a copy of my NOA for the interview (when I receive it) and a letter and the death certificate to the field office listed.  Which will drive a stake through my heart, but must be done.
 
Early last year I posted some very specific details (dates, locations, forms, etc.)  about how to get the medical exam done in Brazil in the least amount of time.  I hope those details help other Brazilian K-1'ers with the process.   It's heavily tagged, so look it up if you need it.
 
Thanks again everyone.  I don't think I'll have the strength to post here again.  We put so much effort into this process (as each of you are doing / have done) and now it's all just wasted effort.  My 3-inch thick folder of copies of immigration forms, NOAs, receipts, etc., just makes me cry.
 
Good luck to all of you.
Obrigado and Tchau . . . .
--Mark . . . .and Sandra

@payxibka  Thank you for the advice, but USCIS has put in a lot a lot of time processing our application and it only feels fair to notify them that we cannot follow through.  I don't want to use more of their time when others are waiting to get their applications processed.  Though it is exceptionally painful for me to ask them to close our application.
 
To those who have offered condolences -- that means a lot to me -- thank you for your kindness.  Pretty tough when the love of your life makes it to the U.S. only to have her slip through your fingers.  What a world.  Sorry.  Just very depressed.
--Mark

Dear Group,
I write with a very heavy heart.  My beloved wife came to the US on a K-1 visa in June 2020.  We married immediately and filed the whole I-485 packet including all the supporting forms and received the NOAs for all.  While waiting for the AOS interview, she died from covid and that has pretty much destroyed my life.  I called the USCIS hotline for advice on how best to withdraw the application, but they seemed very befuddled and recommended that I file form I-140 (which has nothing do with withdrawing a petition -- completely wrong) with the center that is handling my case.  They gave me an address based on my zip code, but I'm questioning if that's correct based on their recommendation of an incorrect form.
 
I just got notice yesterday that the AOS interview has been scheduled and a notice has been sent out.  Should I wait for this notice and then send a letter with a copy of the notice and death certificate to the address on the notice.  That seems to make the most sense.  Thank you for any advice.  Normally I would be able to figure this stuff out on my own (we got this far . . .), but my brain is very muddled these days.  My apologies.
 
Thank you,
Mark

Dear Group,
I write with a very heavy heart.  My beloved wife came to the US on a K-1 visa in June 2020.  We married immediately and filed the whole I-485 packet including all the supporting forms and received the NOAs for all.  While waiting for the AOS interview, she died from covid and that has pretty much destroyed my life.  I called the USCIS hotline for advice on how best to withdraw the application, but they seemed very befuddled and recommended that I file form I-140 (which has nothing do with withdrawing a petition -- completely wrong) with the center that is handling my case.  They gave me an address based on my zip code, but I'm questioning if that's correct based on their recommendation of an incorrect form.
 
I just got notice yesterday that the AOS interview has been scheduled and a notice has been sent out.  Should I wait for this notice and then send a letter with a copy of the notice and death certificate to the address on the notice.  That seems to make the most sense.  Thank you for any advice.  Normally I would be able to figure this stuff out on my own (we got this far . . .), but my brain is very muddled these days.  My apologies.
 
Thank you,
Mark

Dear Group,
I write with a very heavy heart.  My beloved wife came to the US on a K-1 visa in June 2020.  We married immediately and filed the whole I-485 packet including all the supporting forms and received the NOAs for all.  While waiting for the AOS interview, she died from covid and that has pretty much destroyed my life.  I called the USCIS hotline for advice on how best to withdraw the application, but they seemed very befuddled and recommended that I file form I-140 (which has nothing do with withdrawing a petition -- completely wrong) with the center that is handling my case.  They gave me an address based on my zip code, but I'm questioning if that's correct based on their recommendation of an incorrect form.
 
I just got notice yesterday that the AOS interview has been scheduled and a notice has been sent out.  Should I wait for this notice and then send a letter with a copy of the notice and death certificate to the address on the notice.  That seems to make the most sense.  Thank you for any advice.  Normally I would be able to figure this stuff out on my own (we got this far . . .), but my brain is very muddled these days.  My apologies.
 
Thank you,
Mark

Dear Group,
I write with a very heavy heart.  My beloved wife came to the US on a K-1 visa in June 2020.  We married immediately and filed the whole I-485 packet including all the supporting forms and received the NOAs for all.  While waiting for the AOS interview, she died from covid and that has pretty much destroyed my life.  I called the USCIS hotline for advice on how best to withdraw the application, but they seemed very befuddled and recommended that I file form I-140 (which has nothing do with withdrawing a petition -- completely wrong) with the center that is handling my case.  They gave me an address based on my zip code, but I'm questioning if that's correct based on their recommendation of an incorrect form.
 
I just got notice yesterday that the AOS interview has been scheduled and a notice has been sent out.  Should I wait for this notice and then send a letter with a copy of the notice and death certificate to the address on the notice.  That seems to make the most sense.  Thank you for any advice.  Normally I would be able to figure this stuff out on my own (we got this far . . .), but my brain is very muddled these days.  My apologies.
 
Thank you,
Mark

@payxibka  Thank you for the advice, but USCIS has put in a lot a lot of time processing our application and it only feels fair to notify them that we cannot follow through.  I don't want to use more of their time when others are waiting to get their applications processed.  Though it is exceptionally painful for me to ask them to close our application.
 
To those who have offered condolences -- that means a lot to me -- thank you for your kindness.  Pretty tough when the love of your life makes it to the U.S. only to have her slip through your fingers.  What a world.  Sorry.  Just very depressed.
--Mark

@payxibka  Thank you for the advice, but USCIS has put in a lot a lot of time processing our application and it only feels fair to notify them that we cannot follow through.  I don't want to use more of their time when others are waiting to get their applications processed.  Though it is exceptionally painful for me to ask them to close our application.
 
To those who have offered condolences -- that means a lot to me -- thank you for your kindness.  Pretty tough when the love of your life makes it to the U.S. only to have her slip through your fingers.  What a world.  Sorry.  Just very depressed.
--Mark

Dear Group,
I write with a very heavy heart.  My beloved wife came to the US on a K-1 visa in June 2020.  We married immediately and filed the whole I-485 packet including all the supporting forms and received the NOAs for all.  While waiting for the AOS interview, she died from covid and that has pretty much destroyed my life.  I called the USCIS hotline for advice on how best to withdraw the application, but they seemed very befuddled and recommended that I file form I-140 (which has nothing do with withdrawing a petition -- completely wrong) with the center that is handling my case.  They gave me an address based on my zip code, but I'm questioning if that's correct based on their recommendation of an incorrect form.
 
I just got notice yesterday that the AOS interview has been scheduled and a notice has been sent out.  Should I wait for this notice and then send a letter with a copy of the notice and death certificate to the address on the notice.  That seems to make the most sense.  Thank you for any advice.  Normally I would be able to figure this stuff out on my own (we got this far . . .), but my brain is very muddled these days.  My apologies.
 
Thank you,
Mark

Thank you all sooooo much for your thoughts.
 
I will send a copy of my NOA for the interview (when I receive it) and a letter and the death certificate to the field office listed.  Which will drive a stake through my heart, but must be done.
 
Early last year I posted some very specific details (dates, locations, forms, etc.)  about how to get the medical exam done in Brazil in the least amount of time.  I hope those details help other Brazilian K-1'ers with the process.   It's heavily tagged, so look it up if you need it.
 
Thanks again everyone.  I don't think I'll have the strength to post here again.  We put so much effort into this process (as each of you are doing / have done) and now it's all just wasted effort.  My 3-inch thick folder of copies of immigration forms, NOAs, receipts, etc., just makes me cry.
 
Good luck to all of you.
Obrigado and Tchau . . . .
--Mark . . . .and Sandra

@payxibka  Thank you for the advice, but USCIS has put in a lot a lot of time processing our application and it only feels fair to notify them that we cannot follow through.  I don't want to use more of their time when others are waiting to get their applications processed.  Though it is exceptionally painful for me to ask them to close our application.
 
To those who have offered condolences -- that means a lot to me -- thank you for your kindness.  Pretty tough when the love of your life makes it to the U.S. only to have her slip through your fingers.  What a world.  Sorry.  Just very depressed.
--Mark

Dear Group,
I write with a very heavy heart.  My beloved wife came to the US on a K-1 visa in June 2020.  We married immediately and filed the whole I-485 packet including all the supporting forms and received the NOAs for all.  While waiting for the AOS interview, she died from covid and that has pretty much destroyed my life.  I called the USCIS hotline for advice on how best to withdraw the application, but they seemed very befuddled and recommended that I file form I-140 (which has nothing do with withdrawing a petition -- completely wrong) with the center that is handling my case.  They gave me an address based on my zip code, but I'm questioning if that's correct based on their recommendation of an incorrect form.
 
I just got notice yesterday that the AOS interview has been scheduled and a notice has been sent out.  Should I wait for this notice and then send a letter with a copy of the notice and death certificate to the address on the notice.  That seems to make the most sense.  Thank you for any advice.  Normally I would be able to figure this stuff out on my own (we got this far . . .), but my brain is very muddled these days.  My apologies.
 
Thank you,
Mark

Thank you all sooooo much for your thoughts.
 
I will send a copy of my NOA for the interview (when I receive it) and a letter and the death certificate to the field office listed.  Which will drive a stake through my heart, but must be done.
 
Early last year I posted some very specific details (dates, locations, forms, etc.)  about how to get the medical exam done in Brazil in the least amount of time.  I hope those details help other Brazilian K-1'ers with the process.   It's heavily tagged, so look it up if you need it.
 
Thanks again everyone.  I don't think I'll have the strength to post here again.  We put so much effort into this process (as each of you are doing / have done) and now it's all just wasted effort.  My 3-inch thick folder of copies of immigration forms, NOAs, receipts, etc., just makes me cry.
 
Good luck to all of you.
Obrigado and Tchau . . . .
--Mark . . . .and Sandra

Dear Group,
I write with a very heavy heart.  My beloved wife came to the US on a K-1 visa in June 2020.  We married immediately and filed the whole I-485 packet including all the supporting forms and received the NOAs for all.  While waiting for the AOS interview, she died from covid and that has pretty much destroyed my life.  I called the USCIS hotline for advice on how best to withdraw the application, but they seemed very befuddled and recommended that I file form I-140 (which has nothing do with withdrawing a petition -- completely wrong) with the center that is handling my case.  They gave me an address based on my zip code, but I'm questioning if that's correct based on their recommendation of an incorrect form.
 
I just got notice yesterday that the AOS interview has been scheduled and a notice has been sent out.  Should I wait for this notice and then send a letter with a copy of the notice and death certificate to the address on the notice.  That seems to make the most sense.  Thank you for any advice.  Normally I would be able to figure this stuff out on my own (we got this far . . .), but my brain is very muddled these days.  My apologies.
 
Thank you,
Mark

Dear Group,
I write with a very heavy heart.  My beloved wife came to the US on a K-1 visa in June 2020.  We married immediately and filed the whole I-485 packet including all the supporting forms and received the NOAs for all.  While waiting for the AOS interview, she died from covid and that has pretty much destroyed my life.  I called the USCIS hotline for advice on how best to withdraw the application, but they seemed very befuddled and recommended that I file form I-140 (which has nothing do with withdrawing a petition -- completely wrong) with the center that is handling my case.  They gave me an address based on my zip code, but I'm questioning if that's correct based on their recommendation of an incorrect form.
 
I just got notice yesterday that the AOS interview has been scheduled and a notice has been sent out.  Should I wait for this notice and then send a letter with a copy of the notice and death certificate to the address on the notice.  That seems to make the most sense.  Thank you for any advice.  Normally I would be able to figure this stuff out on my own (we got this far . . .), but my brain is very muddled these days.  My apologies.
 
Thank you,
Mark

Dear Group,
I write with a very heavy heart.  My beloved wife came to the US on a K-1 visa in June 2020.  We married immediately and filed the whole I-485 packet including all the supporting forms and received the NOAs for all.  While waiting for the AOS interview, she died from covid and that has pretty much destroyed my life.  I called the USCIS hotline for advice on how best to withdraw the application, but they seemed very befuddled and recommended that I file form I-140 (which has nothing do with withdrawing a petition -- completely wrong) with the center that is handling my case.  They gave me an address based on my zip code, but I'm questioning if that's correct based on their recommendation of an incorrect form.
 
I just got notice yesterday that the AOS interview has been scheduled and a notice has been sent out.  Should I wait for this notice and then send a letter with a copy of the notice and death certificate to the address on the notice.  That seems to make the most sense.  Thank you for any advice.  Normally I would be able to figure this stuff out on my own (we got this far . . .), but my brain is very muddled these days.  My apologies.
 
Thank you,
Mark

Dear Group,
I write with a very heavy heart.  My beloved wife came to the US on a K-1 visa in June 2020.  We married immediately and filed the whole I-485 packet including all the supporting forms and received the NOAs for all.  While waiting for the AOS interview, she died from covid and that has pretty much destroyed my life.  I called the USCIS hotline for advice on how best to withdraw the application, but they seemed very befuddled and recommended that I file form I-140 (which has nothing do with withdrawing a petition -- completely wrong) with the center that is handling my case.  They gave me an address based on my zip code, but I'm questioning if that's correct based on their recommendation of an incorrect form.
 
I just got notice yesterday that the AOS interview has been scheduled and a notice has been sent out.  Should I wait for this notice and then send a letter with a copy of the notice and death certificate to the address on the notice.  That seems to make the most sense.  Thank you for any advice.  Normally I would be able to figure this stuff out on my own (we got this far . . .), but my brain is very muddled these days.  My apologies.
 
Thank you,
Mark

Dear Group,
I write with a very heavy heart.  My beloved wife came to the US on a K-1 visa in June 2020.  We married immediately and filed the whole I-485 packet including all the supporting forms and received the NOAs for all.  While waiting for the AOS interview, she died from covid and that has pretty much destroyed my life.  I called the USCIS hotline for advice on how best to withdraw the application, but they seemed very befuddled and recommended that I file form I-140 (which has nothing do with withdrawing a petition -- completely wrong) with the center that is handling my case.  They gave me an address based on my zip code, but I'm questioning if that's correct based on their recommendation of an incorrect form.
 
I just got notice yesterday that the AOS interview has been scheduled and a notice has been sent out.  Should I wait for this notice and then send a letter with a copy of the notice and death certificate to the address on the notice.  That seems to make the most sense.  Thank you for any advice.  Normally I would be able to figure this stuff out on my own (we got this far . . .), but my brain is very muddled these days.  My apologies.
 
Thank you,
Mark

Dear Group,
I write with a very heavy heart.  My beloved wife came to the US on a K-1 visa in June 2020.  We married immediately and filed the whole I-485 packet including all the supporting forms and received the NOAs for all.  While waiting for the AOS interview, she died from covid and that has pretty much destroyed my life.  I called the USCIS hotline for advice on how best to withdraw the application, but they seemed very befuddled and recommended that I file form I-140 (which has nothing do with withdrawing a petition -- completely wrong) with the center that is handling my case.  They gave me an address based on my zip code, but I'm questioning if that's correct based on their recommendation of an incorrect form.
 
I just got notice yesterday that the AOS interview has been scheduled and a notice has been sent out.  Should I wait for this notice and then send a letter with a copy of the notice and death certificate to the address on the notice.  That seems to make the most sense.  Thank you for any advice.  Normally I would be able to figure this stuff out on my own (we got this far . . .), but my brain is very muddled these days.  My apologies.
 
Thank you,
Mark

Thank you all sooooo much for your thoughts.
 
I will send a copy of my NOA for the interview (when I receive it) and a letter and the death certificate to the field office listed.  Which will drive a stake through my heart, but must be done.
 
Early last year I posted some very specific details (dates, locations, forms, etc.)  about how to get the medical exam done in Brazil in the least amount of time.  I hope those details help other Brazilian K-1'ers with the process.   It's heavily tagged, so look it up if you need it.
 
Thanks again everyone.  I don't think I'll have the strength to post here again.  We put so much effort into this process (as each of you are doing / have done) and now it's all just wasted effort.  My 3-inch thick folder of copies of immigration forms, NOAs, receipts, etc., just makes me cry.
 
Good luck to all of you.
Obrigado and Tchau . . . .
--Mark . . . .and Sandra

Thank you all sooooo much for your thoughts.
 
I will send a copy of my NOA for the interview (when I receive it) and a letter and the death certificate to the field office listed.  Which will drive a stake through my heart, but must be done.
 
Early last year I posted some very specific details (dates, locations, forms, etc.)  about how to get the medical exam done in Brazil in the least amount of time.  I hope those details help other Brazilian K-1'ers with the process.   It's heavily tagged, so look it up if you need it.
 
Thanks again everyone.  I don't think I'll have the strength to post here again.  We put so much effort into this process (as each of you are doing / have done) and now it's all just wasted effort.  My 3-inch thick folder of copies of immigration forms, NOAs, receipts, etc., just makes me cry.
 
Good luck to all of you.
Obrigado and Tchau . . . .
--Mark . . . .and Sandra

Thank you all sooooo much for your thoughts.
 
I will send a copy of my NOA for the interview (when I receive it) and a letter and the death certificate to the field office listed.  Which will drive a stake through my heart, but must be done.
 
Early last year I posted some very specific details (dates, locations, forms, etc.)  about how to get the medical exam done in Brazil in the least amount of time.  I hope those details help other Brazilian K-1'ers with the process.   It's heavily tagged, so look it up if you need it.
 
Thanks again everyone.  I don't think I'll have the strength to post here again.  We put so much effort into this process (as each of you are doing / have done) and now it's all just wasted effort.  My 3-inch thick folder of copies of immigration forms, NOAs, receipts, etc., just makes me cry.
 
Good luck to all of you.
Obrigado and Tchau . . . .
--Mark . . . .and Sandra

Thank you all sooooo much for your thoughts.
 
I will send a copy of my NOA for the interview (when I receive it) and a letter and the death certificate to the field office listed.  Which will drive a stake through my heart, but must be done.
 
Early last year I posted some very specific details (dates, locations, forms, etc.)  about how to get the medical exam done in Brazil in the least amount of time.  I hope those details help other Brazilian K-1'ers with the process.   It's heavily tagged, so look it up if you need it.
 
Thanks again everyone.  I don't think I'll have the strength to post here again.  We put so much effort into this process (as each of you are doing / have done) and now it's all just wasted effort.  My 3-inch thick folder of copies of immigration forms, NOAs, receipts, etc., just makes me cry.
 
Good luck to all of you.
Obrigado and Tchau . . . .
--Mark . . . .and Sandra

Thank you all sooooo much for your thoughts.
 
I will send a copy of my NOA for the interview (when I receive it) and a letter and the death certificate to the field office listed.  Which will drive a stake through my heart, but must be done.
 
Early last year I posted some very specific details (dates, locations, forms, etc.)  about how to get the medical exam done in Brazil in the least amount of time.  I hope those details help other Brazilian K-1'ers with the process.   It's heavily tagged, so look it up if you need it.
 
Thanks again everyone.  I don't think I'll have the strength to post here again.  We put so much effort into this process (as each of you are doing / have done) and now it's all just wasted effort.  My 3-inch thick folder of copies of immigration forms, NOAs, receipts, etc., just makes me cry.
 
Good luck to all of you.
Obrigado and Tchau . . . .
--Mark . . . .and Sandra