nm123

GueraKristina, wouldn't it be nice if they changed the policy and he could go?

Is there only 1 medical clinic now, that's inside the consulate? Or do people still go to 1 of the 2 that are on the same block as the old consulate?

Eavila and GueraKristina, good luck to both of your significant others!! Almost done.

I just talked to alfredo via txt message, he said his cell phone battery died, thats why i couldnt get ahold of him, (i called him like 5 times last night, and like 7 times today), i was starting to get worried, but he said he is fine, and that he should be in juarez by 4:30, his mom called me last night from mexico to ask what time alfredo should be arriving in juarez because she has family there, and she wants to give them a definate time so that maybe they can go pick alfredo up from the bus station and take him to the hotel, so we will see how that goes.

Alfredo also wants to know if im going to make the reservations for Holiday inn express Las misiones, but i told him that i wanted to make sure that he could find it first, because i dont want him to be lazy, and be like well, this hotel looks fine, and go to a different 1 and have me lose my money.

I told him that he should find holiday inn express las misiones, and just pay for it out of his pocket because he has enough money to do so. I can extend his reservation online if need be later. I really want him to go to the holiday inn express las misiones because they have free breakfast and a free shuttle and they are close to the new consulate.

I hate having to be at work when alfredo is actually arriving in juarez. It would be so much easier if i could just wait for him to text me and let me know that he found the hotel, i could jump on the computer, and make him a reservation as he is walking through the doors of the hotel, so that everything is ready and less expensive.

I told alfredo that because he is probably going to be getting to the hotel around 5pm today, if not later, he should just descansar y preparar for his doctors appt tmrw.

Im sooo nervous, i hope he arrives ok, and i cannot belive that he is finally having his doctors appt tmrw. I hope everything goes ok, and that he can get his results the same day, and that there are no delays because of the approaching holidays.

Everybody PLEASE wish us luck and pray that we get approved and in and out of juarez ASAP so that i can unrap the best present ever this christmas

You're totally on top of it! I think everything will go well. You've prepared him and he's going to be a lot more ready than some of the other people who show up with missing info/paperwork.

It's crazy that the new consulate is up and running. I wonder when people will post photos?

Ok guys, this is the newest news, hot off the press.... or cell phone, whichever u prefer

Alfredo was in a rush everytime i talked to him, i guess i would be too, but he went to the bank in his home town and got the money out and closed the count without any problems to my knowledge.

He also told me that he was going to take the bus from Toluca to Juarez, but that something happened??? and that he was going to have to try to make it to the 3 o'clock bus in mexico city.

I just got off the phone with him and he said that he was waiting at the bus station in mexico city waiting to get the 3 o'clock bus to juarez, so all sounds fine so far, besides the fact that we are a couple of days behind, i would rather be behind than have something worse happen.

With the way i see it, alfredo should be in juarez (from mexico city) in 18 hrs, so he should get there around 9 am tuesday morning, by the time he gets to the hotel and stuff, it will probably be too late to go to the medical appt., so he will just be getting situated and organized tmrw when he arrives in juarez, and i would expect his doctors appt. to go down on wednesday.

Will let you guys know of any changes or updates. I have to get ready for work and go to the store on the way to buy alfredo more minutes on his phone so we can keep in touch. (who woulda known that a pay as you go phone woulda worked in mexico without any crazy charges)

Good luck to Alfredo!!! You guys are almost done.

Good evening,

We got our NOA 2 from CSC, an email tonight from CRIS at 8:30pm. Thanks for all of those who have been writing on this forum, it's been helpful.

Now we only need to interview and make it through the waiver process.

Happy holidays, and good luck to everyone else.

-Marty

Congrats! Soon you guy will get the fiance packet!

If I remember right, Confucian's girl is having her interview this week? Good luck! I hope the med results goes well this time.

I have a question. The DS-156 form, it is not supposed to be signed, but when it asks if the form was prepared by anybody but alfredo, i filled in my information because alfredo cant read or speak english. When i sign it should i get it notarized or what? Let me know what you guys think.

I filed and filled out all the forms out for my husband. Beforehand, I let him know what each item asked for, and he signed it. He can read English but isn't fluent. We had no trouble with anything. And at his CDJ interview, all the questions he was asked had been questions listed on the I-129F. On the DS157, the only thing they asked about was his current employment. I didn't fill out the parts about the "preparer" since I assume that is really there for a lawyer or notario...

Also, even at the adjustment of status forms and cover letter, we did the same thing.

When we got married my hubby put my name on his account and I got my own credit card with my name on it but when I went to apply for my OWN credit card they told me that it didn't count, wasn't enough, Plop!

I wonder if you were an "authorized user" on the account instead of a "joint account holder?" I've read that if you're a joint holder, then you get your own credit score.

We got Isa a secured credit card through Orchard Bank and they have a good rate and I believe the annual fee was waived. After that she has received 3 unsecured cards, the next thing will be to get her an installment loan like a car loan. Good luck with everything.

I would recommend adding him as a joint holder to one of your credit cards. It'll help build his credit and he can get his own later. See this for more explanation: http://banking-law.lawyers.com/consumer-ba...redit-Card.html

Angel called me from the consulate's payphone about an hour ago and told me that...

HIS VISA WAS APPROVED!! I'm so thrilled, we both started crying. Of course, we only talked a few minutes, but now I assume he's just waiting for the visa and I'll be able to talk to him later!!

Thank you so much everyone for answering all of my last minute questions, I appreciate it so much and feel so happy to be done with this step in the process. I hope to buy his plane ticket tonight AHHH!!!

woohoo!!!!!! that's excellent news!!!

Wow, i never thought it was actually going to be a hassel to do something like that. I planned on taking alfredo's paternal last name and keeping my last name, i know people have done it in the past, all of my grandparents did it because they are puerto rican and its just cultural, duh, i probably would have been as fusterated as you. Did you ask why you cant take your husbands last name? treat them like they are stupid and explain teh whole situation to them. Tell them that he his hispanic, and that typically when a woman marries a hispanic male, she takes his paternal name, and keeps her last name. BUT REGARDLESS who are they to tell you you cant do it? if you have documents showing you did it, and your just trying to do it with the dmv, i would just bring your marriage license that shows you changed the names there, and other documents showing your legal name change and be like look, its legal to do it, ( my point is, who is the dmv to tell you that you cant do it, you already did it on your marriage license right? correct me if im wrong but we just go to the dmv to do licenses and ids, and changing of names on that stuff, why would they not let you do it, if ... YOU ALREADY DID IT????!!!! i would say just take the papers you have showing you already do it, and get ready to ###### some people out, but thats just what i would do in the moment of fusteration. good luck, and definately let me know how it goes, b/c chances are, it will probably happen to me too.

Well I thought it would be easy to explain to them that why HE has two last names, and they said that they understood. But on our marriage certificate it shows his full name and my full name. And then to make things more complicated, the county court said I should've signed BRIDE as the new name I wanted - which no one said. It's so stupid because if it was that easy, and it would've prevented the DMV situation, then they should make it a point to tell newlyweds that information so they don't go through this hassle. My next idea is to just go to another county. Oh and another thing that's frustrating is that, even though name change laws are determined by each state, each county seems to have different processes/prices. I called another county and they said it was only $107 (but I didn't ask about the fingerprints and newspapers part, but if the filing fee is different, then there are probably other things that are different too). Will let you know what happens...

Hey y'all,

So now I'm here to vent on my name-changing frustrations. My husband has 2 last names, which is probably what most of the men on here have, and when I went to the DMV today to change my name, they told me I had to keep my middle name and then take on his 2 last names; I can't simply be just my first name and his paternal last name.

I've already changed my name on my SSN card, my job, credit cards, and mortgage...

It's so frustrating! So instead of me having 4 names, I just walked out to think about what to do. Went to the county courts and got a name change packet, but that'll cost $143, plus $15 for fingerprints, plus $90 to get a new name published in the newspapers. So stupid... so I'm twiddling my thumbs instead trying to think of another plan. I don't really feel like calling all the places to reverse my name back to what it was, since that took 3 hrs to do. It's like, 3 hrs to do it all over again? Or keep going and just finish what I started?

Gaby&Talbert and YGandMAT,

I mailed the AOS, EAD, and AP last week but now realize that I might get an RFE since I only sent 2 photos of my husband. Now I'm reading the forums and it looks like I should've sent 6 or 8 total! How many did you guys send?

Guess this is a lesson for future readers...

Oh, just did another search. Looks like some people didn't get an RFE just for sending 2 photos.

Hi there,

We were K3's so we sent them 4 photos, 2 for AOS and 2 for EAD. For K1's they need 6 pictures (since you have AP). I was under the impression they would use these photos for the green card and EAD but they do not. The pictures they use for your GC and EAD are the one they take you on the day of your biometrics appointment. Go figure. Let's hope they don't send you an RFE, but with USCIS, you never now. GOOD LUCK and I hope you don't get an RFE.

YGandMAT - thanks for your response!

caity - it'll all turn out well. it sucks but it'll be nice when it's all over.

Gaby&Talbert and YGandMAT,

I mailed the AOS, EAD, and AP last week but now realize that I might get an RFE since I only sent 2 photos of my husband. Now I'm reading the forums and it looks like I should've sent 6 or 8 total! How many did you guys send?

Guess this is a lesson for future readers...

Oh, just did another search. Looks like some people didn't get an RFE just for sending 2 photos.

Alright... well Angel is beginning his trip to Ciudad Juarez in about an hour. He's taking a bus to Mexico City and with the time change in Mexico, he'll be there by 5:00 AM. Then he has to make his way to Toluca and wait and wait until his flight at 4:00 PM. He should be in Ciudad Juarez by 6:30 PM. He's nervous, I'm nervous... it's all good. I pretend I'm not nervous though- for him at least. I just pray he makes it to CDJ safely and that the rest is a piece of cake.

Thanks for answering all my questions this week- I may be back on here with more if Angel asks me questions once he gets there and I don't have the answer

Take care everyone- hope everyone's weekends are going well!

Caity

Caity - everything will go well!!! Good luck with everything!

Hi everyone.

i have just recieved a notice on october 18th that my fiances petitin was approved and is waiting to be sent to NVC . i have been reading up on most of your dates concerning when everything went through. do you guys think you can give me an estimite on when the interview for my fiance might be.

You do not have to make an appt. for the actual consulate, just go within a year of the appt. letter and between those times, and you should be fine.

Everyone on this thread seems to go to the doctors the day before they go to the consulate, as to not waste any time.

Actually, both these points need clarification. From my K-1 visa perspective:

1. Your NOA2 does actually have an expiration date. It is printed in the top right hand corner. It is

always four months beyond the date of your NOA2. I personally did not need an extension, but

from other posts extensions seem like no big deal, but you have to ask and receive permission

if you wish to have an interview beyond the four month window.

2. You cannot do the medical and the K-1 interview on the same day. It is a two day process for

everyone. You do not get your medical results back until 2 pm or later on the day you visit the

medical clinic. And as previously posted, you cannot make nor need an appt. for the medical

clinics.

Brian

Good job on the clarifications.

Caity - my husband left it blank or put NONE.

Gaby&Talbert and YGandMAT- thanks you two for both of your answers!

For GueraKristina and caityrose - Be sure to familiarize yourselves with the CDJ map:

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&amp...33411f1eb09b96a

The new consulate is with the blue pushpin called "New Consulate." I can't remember but I think it's already open. It'll help you know where the bridges are located too. I went with him (I flew into El Paso, and we met at the Jose Marti Suites, about 15 mins from the consulate) and felt safe and pretended like I knew where I was going. When he went to his medical, he hid his papers under a sweatshirt so no one would talk to him about documents.

At his interview, my husband submitted the necessary docs (DS-156, DS-156k, DS-157, his birth certificate & copy, my copy of my citizenship, my tax transcripts & 1040s & Ws & employment letter & 4 recent paystubs - I had the I-134 ready but the tax stuff was enough - letters of intent from both of us) and his Banamex receipt & medical results. So with him, they didn't take the I-134 and he didn't offer it.

YGandMAT - my husband and I sent his AOS, EAD, and AP application this weekend. I was wondering if between now and any forms are received, are the only type of appointment we get is a biometrics (for AOS and EAD both?)? We did the I-693 with the civil surgeon who transcribed the vaccines, but in the guides for AOS, it talks about a test for tb, syphillis, and HIV. Are we going to have to make an appointment for that, or was that part of the medical exam if my husband didn't go through as a K1?

My husband did his photos across the street from the consulate since all the ones he had were the wrong size (we even submitted the wrong size with the I-129F application since those were the only kinds he could have anyone take of him). I think his were $15 but I can't remember.

As for the blood tests, I'm not sure about that either...

Thanks! Does anyone know if there are biometrics for all 3 forms: EAD, AP, and AOS? Also, is there going to be another medical exam? My husband came on a K1. I thought I saw something somewhere that said they test for HIV, syphilis, and something else.

Just out of curiosity- what time was your SO out of the consulate by?? I know it's a lot of waiting so I was just curious what time... thanks

We got there at 7:45, my husband had gone inside at about 8:00 or 8:15 (can't remember), knew he was approved at 11:30, but he didn't get his visa printed and documents given back until 1:30, and then he was able to leave.

Hi everyone,

I just sent my husband's AOS packet yesterday! Another waiting game begins...

greatgate - oh good, that's a relief!

caity - wooh, it's almost over! Good luck with everything.

We just mailed the adjustment of status packet yesterday! Guess I'll spend a little more time in the AOS threads...

Has anyone checked the price of getting the vaccines at your local health department once you get here?

I think it might vary. I can't remember off the top of my head, but when I asked about them, they ranged between $60 and $120 each.

greatgate - Your fiance will also need to get the HPV (Human papillomavirus; aka Gardasil)vaccine if she's under 26. That probably won't be available in Juarez. It's a series of 3 shots (I think every 2 months), and they're each about $150 and she has to have at least the first one when she gets the I-693 transcribed by a civil surgeon.

More info:

http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/men...00045f3d6a1RCRD

greatgate- I can't remember when your fiance had her medical exam, but if it was before August 1, then it looks like she won't need the HPV vaccines:

Q: When will the new vaccination requirements become effective?

The new vaccination requirements became effective on July 1, 2008. However, CDC approved a 30 day grace period until August 1, 2008. Therefore, for any medical exam conducted on or after August 1, 2008, the new vaccinations, if appropriate, must be administered in order for USCIS to approve the applicant for adjustment of status.

From: http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/men...0004718190aRCRD

As of about 1 month ago, yes, put them all in the same packet and send to Chicago.

Thanks - just wanted to make sure!

Has anyone checked the price of getting the vaccines at your local health department once you get here?

I think it might vary. I can't remember off the top of my head, but when I asked about them, they ranged between $60 and $120 each.

greatgate - Your fiance will also need to get the HPV (Human papillomavirus; aka Gardasil)vaccine if she's under 26. That probably won't be available in Juarez. It's a series of 3 shots (I think every 2 months), and they're each about $150 and she has to have at least the first one when she gets the I-693 transcribed by a civil surgeon.

More info:

http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/men...00045f3d6a1RCRD

Hi,

My husband is going through adjustment of status (entered on a K1 visa and we were married within 90 days). Does he send his I-485, I-765, and I-131 in one package to the PO Box 805887 in Chicago? I'm reading the guides and just wanted to make sure. Thanks.

Boy, is sure feels good to finally be able to answer questions instead of asking questions.

Though, I am sure I will asking questions like a maniac in the AOS forum when the time comes.

Brian

Congratulations! Don't worry about AOS, it's a piece of cake. If you need help, you can always ask us.

Oh, and if she brings her vaccination card from Mexico, it would help save you a lot of money. I know that K1's don't need vaccinations, but for AOS you will need to submit them. The required vaccines are MMR, Varicella and Td. If she has her vaccination card, she can take it to a Civil Surgeon and have them transcribed to for I-693A for a small fee.

Good luck....

Anyone adjusting status now has to use form I-693 and can't use I-693A anymore (as of August 1, 2008). You'll have to call around different civil surgeon's offices, and most of the receptionists don't know what the heck to do with you, so make sure you stick to the nice receptionists who can answer all your questions. I ended up calling 4 offices where 1 told me to call another office where the doctor "did immigration things," where she was on vacation at that other office and no one knew what to do except the medical exam, another said they only did medical exams, and another was rude and ignorant about different visas and asking why my husband didn't get vaccines in Mexico. The last office finally was helpful and it only cost $15 for the transcription (part 5 of the I-693) and we ended up paying $80 since he had to get 1 vaccine that he hadn't gotten from the Centro de Salud.