Germanchick2502

Congratulations, oddo!

The visa arrived this morning!!! Now I really have it in my hand. All is set and we can start planning our lives together!

Hi everyone,

I just wanted to let you know that my visa was granted yesterday! The interview was in the morning at the Frankfurt, Germany consulate. The day began by waking up early and being so nervous that I was not even able to eat any breakfast. Then I left the hotel and took the subway to the consulate.

When I got there there already was a line. So, we waited in the cold to get our number and finally be admitted to the consulate. For that we had to show our invitation letter and then go through a airport-like security check. After leaving my cell phone in the care of the security officers I continued on to the great waiting hall.

The security woman there told me to go to window 22 and "pay" the visa fees, then sit down and wait. Of course my fees were already paid for, and the cashier told me to just sit down and wait till my number was called. So that's what I did. They called my number and I went up to window 23. The woman there wanted a bunch of documents from me that I had already sent to NVC. I informed her of that and she went to check my file. She came back and told me that they really did already have those documents. Funny that. She asked me if I really did not wish to hand in anything. I denied and in return got a look. She gave me an envelope and told me to address it to myself and put €4.25 postage on it (my polite question about where a postage machine would be got a stare and bitchy reply in return). I got the postage from the machine and then sat down to address the envelope.

I met a nice family who had won the greencard lottery and another spouse. We talked which made time go by a little faster. We all had similar experiences with USCIS and NVC which we found pretty hilarious. It was nice to have other people around who were going through the same process. They were ahead of me in line and also had their interviews before me. It all went well for them. Congratulations again!

For me it went on with going up to window 20 where all the lady did was check that the information on the paperwork was correct. She also explained the further procedures and what would happen once my visa was granted and when I am entering the U.S. for the first time as a permanent resident. She also informed me that my paperwork looked good and that all should work out. Once she explained the contents of the brown sealed envelope that will come with my visa and all the legal details (green card can take up to 12 months until then my visa is suffice to work and travel) she told me to sit down again and wait for my interview with one of the consuls at window 16 or 17.

I sat back down and continued talking to the others. They went up to window 16 before me and all seemed quite relaxed.

Then it was my turn: finally after 468 days it was the big moment. My visa interview, the moment that would decide if I were to be allowed to permanently live in the U.S.. And then... it was so unspectacular. She first took my fingerprints (all 10) and then had me sign my DS-230. The she asked me exactly two questions: When did you get married (07/06/2007, but the German date format slightly confused her for a moment )? And where did you meet (in high school when I was an exchange student, he was a senior, too. We became friends and met up again 6 years later, when I wrote my thesis in the U.S.. Then we fell in love and got married a year later and since then we have had a long distance relationship/marriage)? Her comment: Oh, how cute. You're almost high school sweethearts. My reaction: broad smile. The next thing was that she said all looked good and unless they got any negative results concerning my finger prints I should receive my visa via signed receipt mail next week. Congratulations and welcome to the U.S.. That was it. Now all I am waiting for is my visa in the mail. YAY!

All in all it was pretty easy going and the people at the consulate in Frankfurt were quite nice. Thank you for all the support over the past year. I am rooting for all those of you who are not done yet! All will work out just believe in yourselves and your relationship and it all will go well.

:D :D

The letter is generated and tells me nothing specific about my case. It only says that these are the new immunization requirements and that the panel physicians have been informed (the one in Hamburg obviously wasn't yet) and that this is what I have to have proof of at the time of the medical and interview. I am only confused because the physician said nothing about that.

Hello everyone!

I have my interview in Frankfurt, Germany on 11-13. Can anyone tell me about their experience about a CR-1 interview in Frankfurt. Is it really tough or are the consulate people quite considerate of our situation?

Also, I got my appointment letter today and I don't understand the requirements for immunization. I had my medical this week in Hamburg at the panel physician's office. And after getting the shot for HPV the physician had told me I was all set. But in the letter today there were at least 4 more vaccines that I have not yet received and the physician did NOT tell me I needed those. What should I do now? Although I do agree that immunization is good and helpful but I would not look forward to having another 4 shots within the next 3 weeks. Any advice or ideas what went wrong at the medical?

Thanks! Your help is greatly appreciated!

Our interview was scheduled for Nov 13th, 2008 at 8:00am in Frankfurt, Germany.

So, hubby has already kept you updated. We got our interview date today. So, I guess what they really mean by they assign interviews during the 2nd week of a month is that they assign interviews during the first 2 weeks of a month. haha. Easy mistake to make. I guess now it will all move along quickly.

Good luck to everyone who is still waiting!

Hubby and I just had a laugh... The operator at NVC told us that the interviews are scheduled every 2nd week of the month (that would be next week) and only then... She also said that it could take up to 3 months to get a date for the interview.

I just called the local panel physician and made an appointment. YAY- it's really moving along now.

The reason why NVC took 6 months is that we had a lack of financial funding in May/June and had to wait to pay for the IV bill. Everything else was fast and smooth. It was entirely our fault that it took so long. Well, the RFE because of stupid question 20 was kind of useless but never mind. So no worries there- NVC is fast as long as you don't get stuck in security checks, I guess.

OK, so hubby will start bugging NVC about the interview date tomorrow. What should he be asking for? He needs the operator and then the case number, right? Anything else?

I hope it will move fast now. So that our plans work out to be together by February 2009. I just hope that our finances will be OK. I am really worried about finding a job and having to survive in a different country. Hubby's income is just not that great yet and I hope to find a decent job soon after coming to the States!

Case completed on 09/30/2008. Finally! Now it might all work out with Feb 2009!!!

Could you please add me:

09/04/2008 DS-230 entered at NVC

09/14/2008 RFE

09/30/2008 Case complete at NVC

xx/xx/2008 Interview date

Country: Germany

Congratulations! I can't wait for that day to come. Good luck with everything!

Hey everyone!

It's been a long time (something weird happened to my account here and I couldn't retrieve my password). But I come bearing good news: OUR CASE WAS COMPLETED AT NVC ON September, 30th!!!

Wohoo! Just one question: what happens now? Will the case be transferred to the consulate? I am very excited right now.

Best wishes to all of you!

Congrats!

I thought there were consequences for the CR-1 process if you get ever denied entry. The most immediate consequence is that you loose the right to ever travel under the VWP again. Second of all, during the CR-1 process they do ask for the beneficiaries history of traveling to the U.S. Additionally, we had people posting here on VJ that they had to file a waiver about their denied entry and that it initially lead to them being denied their visa. All this did not happen until the interview at the consulate. All in all I think the risk is small. I did travel to the U.S. after being married and having filed the I-130 and before that was approved. The POE officer did ask a lot of questions because it was my second long stay within a 360 day period. But he was mostly concerned about my finances and who I would be seeing. I did not mention my hubby but the topic came up only in the sense that I was asked who I was staying with. I did not see a need to make the whole thing more complicated than it had to be. In the end I was allowed to enter. I would not try it again. I don't think it's worth the risk of being denied the visa and than having to file a waiver with the help of a lawyer.

Yeah, both hubby and I have been trying that number and it always gives a busy signal. No idea! Thanks for the wishes!

Ich wünsche Euch auch alles Gute!

Hey guys!

Why is the NVC hotline no longer working? Does anybody know? Its constantly on a busy signal whenever I or hubby try to call. Any suggestions?

Thanks!

And of course: this is not the RFE hotline you want to call. It is the normal hotline and then just press 0 until you have an officer on the phone. And of course it doesn't always work. Also, I am not a specialist but it is always worth a try. You count the days from the date that is marked as "date received" on your NOA1. I hope this will help some people to be with their loved ones sooner.

Did you stress the fact that the 6 months deadline is up and that still nothing has happened. To explain: USCIS says that they will do everything possible in order to get cases approved within 6 months. And even though there is all this back up emphasizing this did help my hubby and I when our 6 months deadline was up in February. We called on the day of the 6 months deadline and just kept on pressing that matter. BUT we were very polite about it while still being persistent that the regulations still apply and that we were very surprised what was going on. About 2 days later we had a touch and about another 2 days later we were approved. But there are no guarantees. And especially we did file after the date that USCIS still has posted on their website.

The baby is automatically an American citizen. All you need to do is find out about dual citizenship in Japan. For example: In Germany a baby born by a German citizen married to an American citizen automatically is both American and German citizen. All the mother has to do is report the birth to the American consulate and apply for an American passport. The baby is already registered in Germany at that point and therefore has both citizenships and can keep them all his or her life.

Of course, if the baby is born in the U.S. then it also is automatically an American citizen. So, all you have to do is google or search for information on dual citizenship Japan-U.S.A.

For example:

http://legal.3yen.com/2005-09-27/can-i-cla...sa-nationality/

or

http://www.us-immigration.com/information/...itizenship.html

The second seems less detailed in information. I would call city council close to you and ask about the situation.

Yeah, but does it help or hurt if I add my savings anyway. I mean my husband meets the poverty line requirement but it shouldn't hurt if they have the additional information on my savings, right?

Nobody will be able to tell you this as every case is unique. Next thing you will get is the DS-230 (see the guides for more information) and they will review your I-864 and decide if the financial funds provided by the sponsor(s) are sufficient. Once the intending immigrant has all the documents for the DS-230 and the form is filled out you have to send that in and then NVC will check the documents and information provided. It all depends on what they decide upon once they receive the information and documentation required. My guess is it could be anywhere between a few weeks and a couple months. But thats just my guess and it could be a lot quicker.

Well they have the most recent tax return anyway. So, they know how much he's earned the last couple years. He will meet the poverty line requirements even with the estimate although his income will be lower than last year. Does this matter? And does it make sense to give them my savings if its less than $10,000.00? Thanks again!