Charles & Ai

Thanks Everyone for the help along the way. The visa interview went great!!! She was granted her Visa and we can finally be together after all this time - everyone has been so helpful. I will fill out my timeline as soon as I can sitdown at a computer for a long time when I get back to the States.

Thank-you everyone again and I will keep checking the boards to try and help anyone I can along the way...it is a long journey but when you finish it is the best feeling in the world.

It has been a long long wait! We married in December 2007 and finally our interview is set for tomorrow at the Tokyo Embassy. Keep us in your prayers today and tomorrow! The only thing that could come up I think is my wifes DWI - it was 3 years ago but I have all of the supporting documents/police report/court records that we asked for and have lots of other documents too. I think because it was 3 years ago and her only offense that I think it should be okay...it must be okay. I can't imagine what we would do if there was an issue - our kid - our life...ahh! I will just pray and trust things will be okay tomorrow!

Everyone has been so much help here and I will post again tomorrow to update everyone.

We have our visa interview in just 1 month!! We are so excited because we actually got married 1.5 years ago and have a kid now. My wife had a DWI while she was here in the States - and this is basically the biggest event in our life so....

What documents should I prepare?

I am preparring all of the normal documents -

- Phone records

- Photos

- Home Videos

- Apartment leasing contracts

etc.etc.etc.

What should I prepare especially for the DWI? I can get a note from people knowing here written on her behalf - does anyone suggest anything specific who has gone through this process especially?

Thanks in advance for the help! I can't believe we are almost there!!!

Yes, I think it is okay. The ben. is my wife, but I am going to the interview for support and also to help my wife move back to America with the baby after the interview is done.

I think she will come to visit. Yes, I know I do not have to go to Japan for the interview but she will feel better and if I can support in anyway that is what I want to do.

It will be a big day for us so I want to be there just for support.

Thanks again everyone!

Well, I just turned in my DS230 and AOS on Tuesday of last week and now we are waiting for the VISA interview date to be issued to us. I currently live at home but just found a really really nice deal for an apartment in a pretty high scale area for 2 months. I think our interview should be coming up sometime in July or August but I will be to busy at that time to go for the interview so I think we will postpone the interview and ask them to reschedule (my job is too busy until September to let me take a vacation).

With this thinking of just finding a new place that is furnished and in a really high scale area we thought my wife and baby could come visit. She has visited the states 2x recently - once before starting the paper work for the visa, and once after we started the paperwork when my father passed away last year.

I think she should be okay because I can show the sublease of the apartment ending August 31 and I can also she has come here many times with a history of returning - recently once after the visa paperwork had already been started.

Is anyone aware of this being a problem especially towards the end of the process?

Thanks for the help everyone!

Agreed, Did she attend drug treatment or was it alcohol treatment? Don't mix the terms, she was either charged with drinking and driving as indicated in your letter, or she was under the influence of narcotics. Just be consistent.

Did you already attach the court documents?

Good luck.

Well, I guess she really attended substance abuse treatment but in her discharge note from the court it says "Drug Treatment" I should probabbly omit the word drug however as that does set off the flags I think.

Court documents? I have only her probation discharge note from the probation officer - would you suggest I put something else in?

Thanks for all the help - feels good to be almost there.

My wife received a DWI (OWAI) while she was an exchange student here. So on DS230 part II question 30.b and 31 we must answer "Yes" and then provide an explanation. For the explanation I put "Please see attached sheet".

This letter and the probation officer's probation discharge are my only Supplemental documents. Do you think I should add anything else?

My attached Sheet has this written:

To whom it may concern,

In spring of XXXX, I, ___________, was arrested for drinking and driving and charged with a DWI 1st (Driving while impaired first offense, also referred to as a OWAI, a less severe charge than that of a DUI). Because of my mistake I, _____________, was required to pay a fine, pay court fees, complete community service, and attend drug treatment. I, ________, successfully completed the above activities and thereafter was discharged from probation on May XX, XXXX. Soon after being discharged from probation I returned to Japan in June XXXX. Because of my DWI, I, ______, answered yes to questions 30.b & 31.

What do you guys think of that for a letter? Do you think it is good? We are almost there - I have all the documents put together and was ready to put this in the mail today but thought I do not want to mess up all the hard work so far with a bad letter.

Congrats buddy! We are just a little behind you, prayers are with you.

What do you mean by passed the medical exam? Can you fail? My wife had hers (we worked ahead) and she did the medical exam. She didn't indicate any problems but no one said "She passed"

Is there something I am missing.

Don't forget to tell us how the interview goes!

Congratulations and good luck with the interview! God is great! You and your wife will be together soon!

Is there any reason to translate my childs birth certificate for the DS230? I can't find anything on the embassy web site stating that I need too but thought maybe it would be a good idea.

The child is mine and my wifes (I am USC and she is alien).

This is confusing for me.

I am the USC and I live in America. My wife and child live in Japan. My question is - Do I list that

Myself

&

My daughter

as accompanying my wife to the United States? I ask because I will be going with my wife to the interview in Tokyo and at the time she returns I will also be flying back with her. Because of this, should I say that myself and child will accompany my wife?

Thanks!

I am sending the original with the DS-230 and taking a photocopy of the original police certificate to the interview. At the interview you need to remember to ask for the originals to be returned to you.

To the best of my knowledge another original Police certificate is not required.

Best wishes

Arthur and Roberta

Hmmm...perhaps the police certificate is different in different countries. The police certificate from Japan is sealed and we have been instructed not to open the envelope so I cannot make a photo copy.

Does anyone have experience with translating the Japanese birth certificate into english for the DS230?

I think this must be done by an official translator. Does anyone have any suggestions for an official translator in Tokyo area or how they translated the birth certificate?

Thanks!

mistaken double post

I am about to send of my DS-230. I have a question on a couple of the documents

A Two (2) Passport Size Photographs of Beneficiary.

B DS-230 Part 1 completed and signed by beneficiary

C DS-230 Part 2 completed by beneficiary – unsigned.

D Photocopy of the beneficiary's passport biographic data page.

E Certified Birth Certificate of beneficiary.

F Certified Marriage Certificate.

G Original police certificates of the beneficiary.

H A set of photocopies of the certified or original documents.

G - I only have one set of police certificates - do I need a second copy to take to the interview or not? I thought I needed to take an original police certificate to the interview but I also need to submit it with the DS230. Should I have 2 copies of the police report?

Do you think that they will not issue my wife's visa until the child's situation is taken care of??

If you have lots of other evidence of bonafide marriage evidence, you probably won't be asked for a DNA test and everything will go smoothly, and you'll be able to get your child's CRBA and wife's interview out of the way in the same visit. That being said, the only question I got asked at my interview is whether our twins had been registered with the embassy yet. So if you can, do make an appointment for that before your wife's interview, even if it is a few days before, or at least have a good reason why it hasn't been done.

Thanks for the input! My current plan is to try to make a claim for the citizenship before the Visa interview. Because I work I figure I will go to Japan a good week before the interview for a vacation and perhaps the first or 2nd day in Japan I will go to the embassy to make a claim for the childs citizenship so they can see that this has been in process. Hopefully this will be sufficient to show we are in the process by the time my wife's visa interview starts.

Do you guys think that is sufficient? If not, I should go to Japan sometime this month to make a claim for the child's citizenship. The only down side to this is using vacation time and paying for a plane ticket...$1500!! Yikes!

Thanks again guys/gals.

Thanks!

Visa process and CRBA process are separate and distinct. One will not affect the other. However, you need to settle the child's citizenship issue as the child potentially has a CLAIM to citizenship and the consulate most likely will not issue a visa until any potential claim is settle

Do you think that they will not issue my wife's visa until the child's situation is taken care of??

If so, do you think I should travel to Japan to take care of the child asap? This is a large expense but much cheaper in the long run if this means my wife's visa not getting rejected....

Long story short

Wife and I married 12-2007. I am USC wife is Japanese Citizen.

We have a baby girl 9-2008

My wife and kid are in Japan.

I am sending in the AOS and DS230 forms completed this week so hope to have an interview in next 2 months - all medical check/police reports have already been finished so we are almost done!

The one thing is that the visa process is for my wife only. Will this seem odd at embassy because my kid is not USC yet? I thought I would go to Japan a couple days before the interview and apply for childs USC then to show that I had tried but because i have only seen my wife a couple times through all of this we have not yet applied for our childs USC.

Will this be a problem at the interview/paper work? Technically my child is not a USC yet until granted so. I wonder if this will raise eyebrows at interview?

Any suggestions - I do not want to spend $2000 and vacation time from work just to get the childs USC stuff worked out unless I really have to.

Thanks!

Actually, I have yet to receive any documents from NVC about my DS230 or AOS documents so I went ahead and have completed these.

My questions is:

Do I need additional documents to submit with my DS230 Part. 1 & Part 2 submission?

So Far what I am submitting in my wife's DS230 document form are only 3 items:

i) Cover letter - proof of payment (printed from gov. website)

ii) DS230 Part 1

iii) DS230 Part 2

Is this all I need?

I do not have the instructions so I am unsure if I need additional items such as police report/medical check/ items such as these (I believe I only bring these at the time of the interview).

Thanks!

For the I-864, it will not give me an address to send it to - does that mean I need to wait for the official packet to come to my house or can I go ahead and send it in (just print off internet and submit)?

If I can just send it in what is the address to send it in to?

Thanks,

Charles & Ai

I have been sitting on my case wondering why I have not heard anything back in months and reopened my paperwork to find a surprise - I need to send them back the bill showing I paid! DOH!

So far, I think all I have to do is:

For the AOS Bill:

I send the receipt and the cover page

For the IV Bill:

I send the receipt and the cover page

Is this correct? It said that sending in documentation that is not need or that is not asked for will increase the waiting period so I want to confirm before sending.

Are those the only things I need to send before they will send me the I-864 & DS230 packet? (I have already filled them out and am awaiting sending these in)

Thanks!

Charles & Ai

I paid my IV payment of $400 already 1 month ago but have yet to receive my DS230 packet.

What is the typical time required for this? I will write them an email today but I am confused. I cannot go further wihtout this packet.

There is no need to wait for the documents, just download the DS-230 off of the state department website and fill it out.

Good Luck!!

Thanks for the advice to download and print off of the website. I have filled out our official "practice copy" and have it all done and was waiting for the official packet.

My only question is - how will I receive my police report packet?

In Japan, you need an official note from the government to get it and that note is contained with the DS230 packet?

I paid my IV payment of $400 already 1 month ago but have yet to receive my DS230 packet.

What is the typical time required for this? I will write them an email today but I am confused. I cannot go further wihtout this packet.

How do I obtain the police records for my wife who has previously lived in the United States for more than 6 months? It says she will need finger print forms but I do not know how to do that unless she were to send these in from Japan?

according to this

To obtain an FBI clearance, go to a local police station, FBI field office, or Immigration Service Center and obtain a fingerprint form, fill out the form and get fingerprinted. Mail the card with a certified cheque or money order for US$25 made payable to the "U.S. Treasury" to the following address:

FBI

CJIS Division-Attn: Special Correspondence -

Mode - D2

1000 Custer Hollow Road

Clarksburg, West Virginia

26306 USA

Include a letter stating the request and reason for the FBI Clearance certificate.

A resident of the US can obtain a police clearance through their local police station.

Should she finger print herself from Japan, send me the forms, and I send them to the FBI? I am very confused on this??

Do I need to fill this out for all part time jobs? She has had so many and is unsure of the dates that it will make it very hard to fill out correctly. Obviously if it is needed, we can try to track down the company and get the information but my guess is that for part time jobs it is not important to fill in - in which case we would fill in just 2 over the last 4 years.

Anyone have any suggestions?

Thanks guys and gals! I am getting started on the DS230!