RobbieL

We were told we needed one of those things too... turns out you don't actually need it since we got ours without anything!
 
I think they put up these road blocks because of bureaucratic red tape...
 
Stay persistent on the phone and keep calling until you speak to someone kind again and they will schedule the interview in person..
 
Good luck!
 

Yes. It sucks dealing with them. 
 
They gave us the date right away but it took several phone calls and following all those steps. 
 
I eventually spoke to someone kind and she told me the supervisor takes appointments once per week and she gave us the date and time right there on the call. 
 
Stay persistent and keep calling and get an in-person interview if you still haven't received anything... I believe it's within 2 weeks of arrival. We waiting 4 months lol 
 
Hope this helps you out! 
 
Best,
Robert

Yes. It sucks dealing with them. 
 
They gave us the date right away but it took several phone calls and following all those steps. 
 
I eventually spoke to someone kind and she told me the supervisor takes appointments once per week and she gave us the date and time right there on the call. 
 
Stay persistent and keep calling and get an in-person interview if you still haven't received anything... I believe it's within 2 weeks of arrival. We waiting 4 months lol 
 
Hope this helps you out! 
 
Best,
Robert

This happened for us...
 
We were expecting the SS number and nothing arrived for months...
 
Of course, all the SS offices were shut down for in-person appointments...
 
But, after calling many times, we were able to get an interview in-person. 
 
This is what you need to do: 
 
#1 - call your local ss office to schedule an interview (keep calling until someone lets you because they are still doing these)
#2 - if you are unsuccessful at first, fill out an ss-5 form and mail it to your local office with your passport (they will return your passport to you in the mail)
#3 - once you receive the passport back, call the SS office again and ask to speak to a manager tell them you have an impending need for an SS number (for this you need a job offer letter or something similar)
 
Stay persistent with this... they are still doing interviews for new SS numbers but they won't tell you that they are! 
 
We finally got ours after many attempts so I know firsthand that this works  
 
Best,
Robert

This happened for us...
 
We were expecting the SS number and nothing arrived for months...
 
Of course, all the SS offices were shut down for in-person appointments...
 
But, after calling many times, we were able to get an interview in-person. 
 
This is what you need to do: 
 
#1 - call your local ss office to schedule an interview (keep calling until someone lets you because they are still doing these)
#2 - if you are unsuccessful at first, fill out an ss-5 form and mail it to your local office with your passport (they will return your passport to you in the mail)
#3 - once you receive the passport back, call the SS office again and ask to speak to a manager tell them you have an impending need for an SS number (for this you need a job offer letter or something similar)
 
Stay persistent with this... they are still doing interviews for new SS numbers but they won't tell you that they are! 
 
We finally got ours after many attempts so I know firsthand that this works  
 
Best,
Robert

This is weird because I got mine in the mail earlier this week. 

Nope... we still didn't receive ours as well  

We're in the same boat. Arrived almost exactly 4 weeks ago and still nothing yet. We're hoping it comes in soon as we did check off the box that we needed one for my wife. 

Hopefully the travel ban will pass in 6 to 8 weeks. But it's not guaranteed. 
 
In that case...

1) you won't need a new police certificate, since they are actually valid for 1 year (even though it says 3 months on it, the embassy only needs it for one year out). 
2) you may need a new medical because they are more strict about this
3) it's doubtful you will have to pay a new visa fee, since this was out of your control. I'm fairly certain that they will merely issue a new visa since you were unable to travel during the ban 
 
best of luck!
 

Yes, we did this successfully. We got it pushed forward a bit over 2 weeks. However, we waited until we had the medical results in hand before requesting it. 
 
You also have to email the embassy with a valid reason to expedite it. But they are usually pretty flexible, especially if you're ready to go with all documents and the medical results. 
 
Good luck!

Yes, we did this successfully. We got it pushed forward a bit over 2 weeks. However, we waited until we had the medical results in hand before requesting it. 
 
You also have to email the embassy with a valid reason to expedite it. But they are usually pretty flexible, especially if you're ready to go with all documents and the medical results. 
 
Good luck!

Hi everyone! I just wanted give an update. I arrived in the US yesterday, and now am living with my husband finally after this long wait! 😊 my port of entry was Houston and wasn’t asked anything about the new public charge rule. They only asked me how long I have been married.
i want to thank you all for being so nice to each other, when we have questions or when we need support. I really liked this community and I wish you all the best in what’s left of this Visa journey!

Hi Guys, 
 
We entered the US a couple of days ago with our two children and all is complete!
 
Upon entry, we were required to head into secondary inspection, so you should prepare for that in the case you have a connecting flight through the US. 
 
We did our POE @ Boston Logan and were required to head downstairs with a group of others to a secondary inspection unit. We had to wait about 15 minutes until someone came up to bring us all down, as they had to come collect the passports before escorting us to the lower level. 
 
Almost all the people there did not have a visa so they were being questioned pretty emphatically. My wife was rather nervous, but I told her it wouldn't be a big deal. Thankfully, our two toddler children were relaxed after sleeping most of the flight over from London. 
 
Once they called my wife's name, they literally had no questions for her. They simply told her that this stamp was valid for a year to go in and out and that the green card would be printed and mailed within 4 to 6 months. I think that's probably at excessive, but anyhow...
 
If you're connecting on your POE, give yourself at least 4 to 5 hours of connection time to go through the secondary inspection. It is literally just a formality. And once we were called, we were done and gone in 2 minutes. However, if there are many people waiting there ahead of you, it could take hours! 
 
Wishing everyone out there the best of luck. Especially those impacted by the recent ban. I cannot even begin to imagine going through this entire process only to get to the final stage and be left hanging in the wind. 
 
Please don't lose hope and don't give up. It will happen for you. The tide will turn and your time will come. 
 
Best,
Robert

Hi Guys, 
 
We entered the US a couple of days ago with our two children and all is complete!
 
Upon entry, we were required to head into secondary inspection, so you should prepare for that in the case you have a connecting flight through the US. 
 
We did our POE @ Boston Logan and were required to head downstairs with a group of others to a secondary inspection unit. We had to wait about 15 minutes until someone came up to bring us all down, as they had to come collect the passports before escorting us to the lower level. 
 
Almost all the people there did not have a visa so they were being questioned pretty emphatically. My wife was rather nervous, but I told her it wouldn't be a big deal. Thankfully, our two toddler children were relaxed after sleeping most of the flight over from London. 
 
Once they called my wife's name, they literally had no questions for her. They simply told her that this stamp was valid for a year to go in and out and that the green card would be printed and mailed within 4 to 6 months. I think that's probably at excessive, but anyhow...
 
If you're connecting on your POE, give yourself at least 4 to 5 hours of connection time to go through the secondary inspection. It is literally just a formality. And once we were called, we were done and gone in 2 minutes. However, if there are many people waiting there ahead of you, it could take hours! 
 
Wishing everyone out there the best of luck. Especially those impacted by the recent ban. I cannot even begin to imagine going through this entire process only to get to the final stage and be left hanging in the wind. 
 
Please don't lose hope and don't give up. It will happen for you. The tide will turn and your time will come. 
 
Best,
Robert

Hi Guys, 
 
We entered the US a couple of days ago with our two children and all is complete!
 
Upon entry, we were required to head into secondary inspection, so you should prepare for that in the case you have a connecting flight through the US. 
 
We did our POE @ Boston Logan and were required to head downstairs with a group of others to a secondary inspection unit. We had to wait about 15 minutes until someone came up to bring us all down, as they had to come collect the passports before escorting us to the lower level. 
 
Almost all the people there did not have a visa so they were being questioned pretty emphatically. My wife was rather nervous, but I told her it wouldn't be a big deal. Thankfully, our two toddler children were relaxed after sleeping most of the flight over from London. 
 
Once they called my wife's name, they literally had no questions for her. They simply told her that this stamp was valid for a year to go in and out and that the green card would be printed and mailed within 4 to 6 months. I think that's probably at excessive, but anyhow...
 
If you're connecting on your POE, give yourself at least 4 to 5 hours of connection time to go through the secondary inspection. It is literally just a formality. And once we were called, we were done and gone in 2 minutes. However, if there are many people waiting there ahead of you, it could take hours! 
 
Wishing everyone out there the best of luck. Especially those impacted by the recent ban. I cannot even begin to imagine going through this entire process only to get to the final stage and be left hanging in the wind. 
 
Please don't lose hope and don't give up. It will happen for you. The tide will turn and your time will come. 
 
Best,
Robert

Hi Guys, 
 
We entered the US a couple of days ago with our two children and all is complete!
 
Upon entry, we were required to head into secondary inspection, so you should prepare for that in the case you have a connecting flight through the US. 
 
We did our POE @ Boston Logan and were required to head downstairs with a group of others to a secondary inspection unit. We had to wait about 15 minutes until someone came up to bring us all down, as they had to come collect the passports before escorting us to the lower level. 
 
Almost all the people there did not have a visa so they were being questioned pretty emphatically. My wife was rather nervous, but I told her it wouldn't be a big deal. Thankfully, our two toddler children were relaxed after sleeping most of the flight over from London. 
 
Once they called my wife's name, they literally had no questions for her. They simply told her that this stamp was valid for a year to go in and out and that the green card would be printed and mailed within 4 to 6 months. I think that's probably at excessive, but anyhow...
 
If you're connecting on your POE, give yourself at least 4 to 5 hours of connection time to go through the secondary inspection. It is literally just a formality. And once we were called, we were done and gone in 2 minutes. However, if there are many people waiting there ahead of you, it could take hours! 
 
Wishing everyone out there the best of luck. Especially those impacted by the recent ban. I cannot even begin to imagine going through this entire process only to get to the final stage and be left hanging in the wind. 
 
Please don't lose hope and don't give up. It will happen for you. The tide will turn and your time will come. 
 
Best,
Robert

Hi Guys, 
 
We entered the US a couple of days ago with our two children and all is complete!
 
Upon entry, we were required to head into secondary inspection, so you should prepare for that in the case you have a connecting flight through the US. 
 
We did our POE @ Boston Logan and were required to head downstairs with a group of others to a secondary inspection unit. We had to wait about 15 minutes until someone came up to bring us all down, as they had to come collect the passports before escorting us to the lower level. 
 
Almost all the people there did not have a visa so they were being questioned pretty emphatically. My wife was rather nervous, but I told her it wouldn't be a big deal. Thankfully, our two toddler children were relaxed after sleeping most of the flight over from London. 
 
Once they called my wife's name, they literally had no questions for her. They simply told her that this stamp was valid for a year to go in and out and that the green card would be printed and mailed within 4 to 6 months. I think that's probably at excessive, but anyhow...
 
If you're connecting on your POE, give yourself at least 4 to 5 hours of connection time to go through the secondary inspection. It is literally just a formality. And once we were called, we were done and gone in 2 minutes. However, if there are many people waiting there ahead of you, it could take hours! 
 
Wishing everyone out there the best of luck. Especially those impacted by the recent ban. I cannot even begin to imagine going through this entire process only to get to the final stage and be left hanging in the wind. 
 
Please don't lose hope and don't give up. It will happen for you. The tide will turn and your time will come. 
 
Best,
Robert

Hi Guys, 
 
We entered the US a couple of days ago with our two children and all is complete!
 
Upon entry, we were required to head into secondary inspection, so you should prepare for that in the case you have a connecting flight through the US. 
 
We did our POE @ Boston Logan and were required to head downstairs with a group of others to a secondary inspection unit. We had to wait about 15 minutes until someone came up to bring us all down, as they had to come collect the passports before escorting us to the lower level. 
 
Almost all the people there did not have a visa so they were being questioned pretty emphatically. My wife was rather nervous, but I told her it wouldn't be a big deal. Thankfully, our two toddler children were relaxed after sleeping most of the flight over from London. 
 
Once they called my wife's name, they literally had no questions for her. They simply told her that this stamp was valid for a year to go in and out and that the green card would be printed and mailed within 4 to 6 months. I think that's probably at excessive, but anyhow...
 
If you're connecting on your POE, give yourself at least 4 to 5 hours of connection time to go through the secondary inspection. It is literally just a formality. And once we were called, we were done and gone in 2 minutes. However, if there are many people waiting there ahead of you, it could take hours! 
 
Wishing everyone out there the best of luck. Especially those impacted by the recent ban. I cannot even begin to imagine going through this entire process only to get to the final stage and be left hanging in the wind. 
 
Please don't lose hope and don't give up. It will happen for you. The tide will turn and your time will come. 
 
Best,
Robert

Almost all embassy now are electronic so no more sealed packet. Safety for everyone.

Thank you @dwheels76!!! You're the best!!

Did you guys file electronically? (ceac) because I saw the below in a FAQ on our state department page for Jamaica https://ais.usvisa-info.com/en-jm/iv/information/faqs
 
I recently had my immigrant visa interview at the embassy/consulate and received my passport and visa. However, I did not receive a packet of documents in a sealed envelope to take with me on the plane to the United States. My lawyer/petitioner/friends are saying that I can’t fly without one. What should I do?
The Department of State has begun electronic processing of some immigrant visa applications. If either the National Visa Center or the embassy/consulate which conducted your visa interview required that you electronically submit your civil and financial supporting documents via the CEAC portal, then your visa was issued under the new electronic process. Unless specifically informed by the embassy/consulate which interviewed you and issued the visa, you are NOT required to hand-carry a packet of documents in a sealed envelope to present at the U.S. Port of Entry. Be assured that your documents were transmitted electronically from the Department of State to the Department of Homeland Security, Customs and Border Protection (DHS/CBP), the agency that inspects all immigrants entering into the country. When you arrive at Immigration Control at the U.S. Port of Entry, the CBP officers will have access to all of the information required to process your entry into the United States. This new electronic process will streamline the processing of your immigrant visa application and entry to the United States.

HURRAY!!!  My husband's interview was today, and WE GOT APPROVED TOO!!!!  His CO also said it would take 2 weeks to get his passport back, so hopefully, he'll get it in just a few days.  Congratulations to us!!!!  Cheers!!!

Hey guys just left my interview and I we got approved!!!!
 
Thank you so much to the people who were there with us throughout. Big shout-out to @Sea Leslie and @dwheels76 
 
Now just to wait on the visa to come back. He asked us how we met, how long we been together and pretty much said this is a straightforward case. Confirmed some stuff and said he's waiting on one thing from D.C. but that's it!

Woohoo!! Visa approved! Super-simple 10-min interview and only 15-mins of waiting for my wife at the embassy. Thank you guys for all the support!!
 

Thank you @DKing !!! 🙏🙏🙏🙏