SerenityNOW

Thanks to roselinda for posting about your experience! and congratulations

I will add my own info here instead of starting a new thread, as it is similar. (I tried to build a wiki page, but the system is not recognizing my login name any more, so I wasted too much time there already ... it's a great idea for someone to build a page for this topic of passport for offspring of a naturalized citizen, as there are definitely some unique aspects).

The major caveat in our case was that my stepson is 16 - there are special instructions for applicants aged 16 and 17 - and I think that because he is 16, we didn't need extra consent from his mother in Bulgaria for him to apply for a passport, just his father (my husband). We were told only one parent had to consent in his case and nobody ever inquired about custody agreements.

Background: My husband naturalized in 2012, and we brought his son to the US this spring. My husband was married to the mother of his children when my stepson was born, and both the parents' names appear on the birth certificate, which was issued days after the birth of the child. So a pretty straightforward case.

Since my stepson immigrated after my husband became a citizen, he never received a green card, and we applied for the passport under the rules of the Child Citizen Act of 2000. Here's what we included in my stepson's application (we did it at a small-town city hall, as I knew better than to apply at a post office with our weird case, but we probably should have just gone to the Passport Agency in San Francisco):

Our initial application included:

1. My son's birth certificate + "official" translation from an agency in Bulgaria with all the stamps and signatures

2. A photocopy of the I-551 stamp in his passport with the visa (WRONG! I was surprised by this, that only a photocopy was required and sure enough we ended up having to send the actual passport)

3. A photocopy of his father's passport showing he is an American citizen. (WRONG again - again, the person taking our application was incorrect, they requested his naturalization certificate)

We got a letter within a couple of weeks from the Western Passport Center requesting EITHER:

1. My stepson's naturalization certificate (which we never got, nor do we plan to)

OR

1. His father's naturalization certificate

2. "Evidence of legal admission to the United States for permanent residence such as your Permanent Resident Card/Green Card, foreign passport containing a I-551 visa entry stamp; or documentation from USCIS verifying your legal entry." We sent his foreign passport (he never got a green card, nor will he ever since he was a citizen on the day he entered @ POE)

3. His parents' marriage certificate. <<<<< THIS is not mentioned on the CCA website, so we didn't know about this requirement.

The translation of my husband's marriage certificate with his first wife that we used for USCIS (translated by my husband's bilingual co-worker) was not acceptable to the Passport Center - they required the stamps and signatures of an agency. I called around and received quotes of $70 to $115 for this one little page that was, by the way, already translated! I found an awesome woman on the internet who charged me $39 and we had the document in hand 2 days after I sent it to her online (Prime Language Services, if anyone is interested).

We sent the requested documents last Saturday (insured for $1000 because it would be an unimaginable PITA for us to replace that foreign passport - fly to Los Angeles, rent a car to go to the consulate etc ). I was worried the government shutdown would affect this but nope, my stepson's US passport arrived yesterday, so the entire process, including RFE and having to get a translation done, took less than a month.

I guess the bottom line in all of this, or what I learned was:

1. Even a city hall isn't really going to know how to do these CCA applications. If you can't make it to a passport center, you will probably be educating the person accepting the application

2. EVERYTHING has to be original or certified (duh, I don't know why I trusted the person who took our application that a photocopy was OK)

3. Any translations have to be through an actual translation service. This is different from the USCIS requirement. I checked with the Passport Center if the actual document used for the I-130 was good enough and they said no, they need to be able to call someone "official" (like the random lady I found on the Internet)

thank you well tried to call uscis 2 times yesterday and the guy i talked too seem to be either drunk or high if not both lol. he even asked me what is cr2 and ir2 lol. at the end i ended up hanging up coz i asked my call to be escalated to someone else and i placed me on hold forever

Wow that's ridiculous. I may have to call USCIS in the near future and I am dreading it...

So - I am not 100% positive, but I am pretty sure I have read about others in a similar situation (spouse visas) and the advice was to make sure at POE that the person writing in the stamp that endorses the visa writes IR-2, not CR-2 - in other words, tell the person before they take the passport to endorse it. Have ready evidence of your marriage date to make sure they realize you have been married for more than two years.

Sort of a non-answer for the Social Security card question.... I had the info from the embassy saying that since my stepson is less than 18, we have to go to an SSA office. I called the SSA, waited on hold for the better part of an hour only to get someone who told me "Most likely..." we would have to go the office. So we did. Waited there for a while (not too bad, less than an hour) to be told that the SSN was issued on June 19 and should arrive in the mail in the next week. So, for anyone not in a big hurry to receive the card, you might as well wait as it will probably just show up, even for those under 18 years old.

BUT - there is usually a "but", right? - they messed up my stepson's name!! AAAAAAAAARGH. SSA said we have to correct it with USCIS. AAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRGH again! Can you imagine how hard this is going to be? THEN we have to go back to SSA to get the name on his SS card corrected.

What happened was that "immigration" (who exactly I am not sure, at the airport i assume, as his visa is correct) ran his first and middle names together, like "Johnjason" instead of "John Jason," or "John J." or just "John" (as it really should be for the FIRST name...). The woman at SSA was able to go in the system and change the first name to include a space and a capital letter, so like "John Jason" as the first name. Not sure how this is going to affect the passport application, as he doesn't have two first names, he has one first name and one middle name - not unusual at all .... not sure why it caused a problem...

Question for you folks whose kids have already arrived: Did their SSNs arrive automatically in the mail? We were under the impression that because we ticked the box on the DS-230, requesting it to be sent that it would be (as it was for my husband), and that is also what we were told at POE.

Last night my husband was reading through the materials sent by the embassy with the visa package and there is a note that it will be automatically sent.... blah blah, UNLESS you are under 18 years old, in which case you have to go to a SS office.

We can certainly go to the office, but it's totally a pain in the butt and half a day wasted if we don't need to. Especially if we get there and they tell us it will be mailed to us.

Thanks for the update. My stepdaughter actually received her passport today. There was a package with it, and a letter about the $165 fee which MUST be paid before traveling to the US. Did anyone actually pay this prior to traveling?

NOPE! My stepson is here, never paid the fee. They didn't even ask us whether we paid the fee or not at POE ...

Interesting - the USCIS website (updated 5/28) NOW only says you should pay before leaving - BEFORE, it said the fee didn't have to be paid before entry, it would just "delay" receipt of green card.

There are some other changes to that web page too!! I speculated that they were going to close that loophole of Child Citizenship Act kids who don't need to have a green card and sure enough, there is new text there:

Exemptions

Children who enter the United States under the Orphan or Hague adoption programs, Iraqi and Afghan special immigrants, returning residents (SB-1s), and those issued K visas, are the only categories exempt from paying the fee.

Since my stepson is a US Citizen now, we didn't plan to ever pay this fee, unless they somehow require it when we apply for his US passport. According to the DOS's own instructions, he doesn't need an actual green card to apply for a passport and - according to the USCIS's own announcement - that Immigrant Fee is not for legal PR status in the first year - BUT now they have added that it is for "maintenance of the immigrant visa package"!!! So - as I had also predicted, they will find a way to collect this fee from us.

@SerenityNOW - for form DS-230 ( who's named should be on this form? ), is it needed a photocopy of my passport and birth certificate as well or just for my son's? how did you sign the documents? (=

Sorry, I just happened to see this. I was mostly only reading the main stepchild thread, as most of the people applying for IR-2s are there.

My stepson is 16, so he signed his own forms. For a young child, you just sign yourself as "XXX signing for minor child xxx." Several people on that stepchild thread have discussed doing it that way. The rest is the same for everyone else applying for I visas: the visa is for your son, so it's his name. Original documents - his. Photocopy of his bio page of his passport. I don't recall anything being required from my husband at this stage; everything required for the petitioner was already submitted with the I-130 form.

Here is an excerpt from the cover letter I sent (I was the agent on the application, so I sent the letter) - note that some of this is specific to Bulgaria:

To whom it may concern:

Enclosed please find the form DS-230 Application For Immigrant Visa And Alien Registration for my stepson, XXX XXX XXX (DOB XX-XX-1997), and supporting documents as follows:

• Coversheet with barcode
• Form DS-230, signed on page 2
• List of required documents from Bulgaria, from DOS website
• Translation of birth certificate
• Certified birth certificate
• Photocopy of certified birth certificate
• Translation of court certificate (svidetelstvo za sudimost) from the municipality of Smolyan showing that there is no record of his arrest (issued 01-22-2013)
• Original court certificate (svidetelstvo za sudimost)
• Photocopy of court certificate (svidetelstvo za sudimost)
• Photocopy of the biographic page of passport
• Copy of translation of consent form that the birth mother, XXX XXX XXX, has had notarized, giving permission for her son, XXX XXX XXX to immigrate to the United States with his father, XXX XXX XXX
• Copy of consent form

XXX has never been married nor divorced (16 years old), so these documents are not available for him. ...

I won't be on this forum much any more, since now my issues are obtaining a SSN and passport for my stepson [what I have discovered so far: 1). you should wait for the SSN first and 2). a notarized document giving permission for your child to obtain an American passport from the child's mother will be required for your child since he is under age 16 - *might* be required for my stepson since he is still less than 18 years old. Luckily the document we prepared for the embassy included a statement giving my husband permission to apply for any documents related to obtaining citizenship, so I think it will be enough] .

Go to the stepchild thread if you have more questions - LOTS of help to be found there

Just an update: We are all back in the U.S.! My stepson's passport arrived at his apartment on June 10 (the Monday after his Wednesday interview). At the airport passport check in Bulgaria, we presented the notarized letter from his mother permitting him to immigrate to the U.S. and no problems there. We had a long layover in London, and when it is just my husband and me, we often go out of the airport, go into town to have lunch, walk around etc. But I started thinking *what if the UK has different requirements for transporting a minor internationally and our Bulgarian letter (translated, yes) wasn't enough ...* anyway, it just wasn't worth the risk for a few hours, so we hung out in the Heathrow "mall" waiting area the whole time. At SFO, the line was short for passport control, we were sent to the "back room" where we heard someone screaming about something (unfortunately couldn't make out exactly what - I think a journalist from the UK being told he had the wrong type of visa), then about 5-10 minutes later, stamped passport given back to us and we were on our way.

We realized once we were outside the airport that it was Father's Day and my husband had the best Father's Day gift EVER!!

We are going to try to apply for his passport today. I have read elsewhere that most officials don't understand this Child Citizenship Act process (even at the airport, the immigration guy was going on and on about his green card - which he is never going to receive since he is already a citizen now), so I will print the information, but I am still pretty sure we will have to go to the main passport office in San Francisco rather than be able to apply at our little post office.

We have only been home for one day, but so far so good. He has tried a burrito and tortilla chips and guacamole (all got thumbs up) and was appropriately horrified by my "soy green tea matcha latte" (green - and smells like grass). We took him for a Costco experience. We have lots of Bulgarian friends around so he has already been given the staples of survival (feta cheese, lutenitza/pepper spread, sausages, and of course tomatoes & cucumbers). I am still not clear what it is he eats regularly - a lot of white bread, that is for sure - so meals are mostly up to Dad for now.

Lots of sight-seeing in the future: San Francisco, Yosemite, Lake Tahoe, Muir Woods, the coast, etc. I'm not really sure how we are going to get any work done...

I am very lucky that my husband's son is VERY easy-going and really I feel like it has been way too easy so far. The only hard part is about his mother, brother, and grandmother, who are all heartbroken that he is gone. I just feel so sad for them, and so far we haven't been able to get any tourist visas approved. His brother, in medical school, is now very driven to find a way to work in the U.S. for next summer, since he aged out of the family visa category (well we COULD apply for him, pay the $420, wait ~7 years and if he decides to get married in that time, start over again for an even longer wait...) He will also try again for a tourist visa, which would be PERFECT if we can ever get it. He doesn't want to IMMIGRATE here, just visit his father and brother... different topic for a different sub-forum.

Anyway, THANK YOU all so much for the information, advice and support! I learned soooooooooooo much here.

SUCCESS! My stepson got his visa. Kinda anti-climactic in the end I must say. I have terrible internet access in Bulgaria so here is the update finally.

I tried to go in to the interview. Actually we had checked the day before with the security guard about who could go in, and he said only whose name is on the letter - well oddly enough, it was only my name (as the Agent on the case, the letter was addressed to me) and the beneficiary. Nowhere did the petitioner's name appear. So when we got to the security window on the day of the interview, there were phone calls made, discussion in Bulgarian unfortunately and I got the boot but my husband was allowed to go in. I went back to where my husband's ex-wife/my stepson's mother and his brother were waiting. It didn't seem like they were in there that long, definitely less than an hour.

Apparently the only question they asked my stepson was if he was the name on the petition. The rest of the questions were for my husband: Why didn't you immigrate your son with you when you came in 2008? (Um, the kid has a mother and she would NEVER have agreed to that - it took us 4 years for her to even agree for him to be allowed to visit). How did you obtain your citizenship? (though marriage or otherwise? Odd question as we did his CR-1 through the same embassy, so of course they know). Where is your wife? (HA! your security guards wouldn't let her in.... He told them that I was outside the embassy with his son's mother and brother and they were impressed apparently).

That's all I remember for now. I sent in photos in plastic pages, I think 28 in all from birth until the day before the interview and I am not sure if they looked at them or not.

I will post again if they tell me anything else relevant but overall yeah, not so many questions asked of a child - of course these are the same folks who asked only two questions at my husband's CR-1 interview and they were both to me! But lest you think this is an easy embassy, my husband had the pleasure of witnessing lots of rejections for J-1 and B-2 visas. Lots of unhappy people in there.

Congrats to Lucy as well! Any news from Evoria?

Now for the real issues of bringing a child to the US. First step is actually leaving. My stepson's mother and grandmother are FREAKING OUT that he is leaving. I feel like this evil abductor.... I keep telling them that it is totally up to him if he stays full-time or not, as he will have an American passport... The mother has made me cry twice already, as seeing someone else cry always makes me cry! We aren't leaving for another 10 days, so it will be very interesting times around here...

We just had an IR-2 interview yesterday. My husband (immigrated 5 years ago) went into the interview with my stepson (16 years old) and the only question they asked him was "Are you _____?" All the rest of the questions were for my husband, about the timing of immigrating his son, what the son's mother thought, where I was, what I thought.... Hope that helps!

Trying to join this group.....hey y'all....Im the USC, my wife is in the ROC phase of her process. We have our own little baby girl and she has her son, my step son, living with her parents in the Philippines. He is 4.

We've filed the 130 for my step son and its in the second phase currently.

With the birth of our daughter about a month ago, we are a bit behind on current reading for my step son and the process as it looks like he will be an IR2 visa? I was reading a linke supplied to me last night and it stated that the interview and medical is scheduled HERE via the USCIS office and they are the ones that contact the offices in Manila and St Lukes....I've never heard of this before, can this be accurate info?

Yep! Unless there is something specific to the Philippines (and there might be - esp about the medical - check in with either the Philippines regional forum or in the spouse monthly NVC thread, as the process is basically identical for IR-2/CR-2s as it is for IR-1/CR-1s), the NVC processes the documents you send with the visa application and they notify you of your interview date at the consulate. You schedule your own medical exam; usually you have to wait for the interview to be scheduled first but some countries let you schedule it before that.

Hi, I'm Mike . a new VJ member! I have been following this thread for a couple weeks and have decided to join because you guys seem to be kind hearted and that's what I need as I go through NVC and the USA embassy in Jamaica! I need your help! I am 19 years and currently at the NVC stage for my IR2 visa, first let me tell you my story! I have been living with my dad and step mom since I was 1 year old because 10 days after I was born my biological mother went into coma and later died when I was about 4 or 5 years. My step mom has been one of the best mom's ever, she treats me like I'm the only one and she has three of her own! In 2001 I got my 10 year visa when my dad filed the paper work for me, it was renewed in 2011, he was at the interview in both cases since as I was under age. My step mom migrated to the USA in 2007 and I spent 4 months with her in Dec 2011- April 2012. Earlier this year she got naturalized and she filed for me!

Question A : I don't want to do the DNA because it's time consuming, plus it's a lot of money! Do you think base on my situation I will be requested to do a DNA ?

Also, it should be noted that on my Birth Certificate my dad's info was amended in 2000.

Questions B: What evidence can I bring to change their mind from asking for DNA ?

Question C: What are some of the questions I should be prepared to answer at the interview?

Thanks in advance guys for your reply!

A. Nobody knows (our interview is in two days and we are worried about this as well). As someone pointed out in another thread, the fact that your father has already been to the embassy more than once representing you indicates that they already accept him as your father.

B. From what I have read, this is one situation where photos count for a lot! One person said the embassy told her if they had had even one photo of the kids with the dad, they wouldn't have asked for a DNA test. Gather up what you have for your entire life and present an assortment covering the entire time span [We have 20 so far, and my stepson has some additional from early childhood that he is bringing, so I think we will have around 30, presented chronologically in plastic sleeves to pass under the thick glass window]. Also you could bring other documents, such as school records or medical records, listing your father as your father... some people have mentioned bringing logs of Skype chats or phone bills or money wire receipts; anything to show an ongoing parental relationship.... don't know if any of those prove anything or not, but it doesn't hurt.

C.Don't know yet! Will report in after my stepson's interview Wednesday.

I was dropping by to see how everyone is doing. I've been reading through and it seems everyone is moving right along. It brings back so many anxious feelings for me. I always hated when people were finally done and disappeared. (although I know everyone is busy and wants to go back to a normal life once this is over) but this was totally my outlet while I was going through the process so if anyone has any questions that I might can answer please let me know. Good luck to everyone!

Just an update our 3 yr old has adjusted so well. Better than I could have ever expected. She has learned so much English it amazes me. She speaks mostly to me in English and what she says in Spanish I figure out She still talks to her mom in Honduras about twice a week and she speaks to her half English/ half Spanish. My husband has to get on the phone and translate sometimes. Anyway she is our little blessing and we are so happy to have her home with us.

Yaaaaaaaaaaaaay! LOVE it! Especially the Spanglish part. She sounds like such a sweetie. I am jealous - my stepson is OLD (16)

Thanks, trying to find it now. I see the IR1 guide, but not for a step child.

Here is a VJ wik page for IR-2si: http://www.visajourney.com/wiki/index.php/IR-2_%28and_CR-2%29_Visas

Good luck to you! yes, join the stepchild thread, it was a great help to me

So when I received the NVC case #s and Invoice #s, I was able to see some information on the Immigrant Visa invoice payment center website. Now when I log in, its says :

You cannot make online payments for your case at this time. Please contact the NVC if you have questions or need further information.

Does anyone know if this usally happens when I am about to get the next steps?

Thanks

Probably means they are invoicing you ... This is from the spouse NVC thread (FAQs, post #2):

Help! I can't sign into the payment portal. Why?

If you're getting an error message ("Please be advised that the case that you have attempted to access is not eligible for further processing by the National Visa Center at this time…" or "This case is in the process of termination. Fee payments and online forms can no longer be accepted…" or "You cannot make online payments for your case at this time. Please contact the NVC if you have questions or need further information."), do NOT panic. This is actually good news! If you just got your case number, then this message means NVC is inputting your case in their system. If you get this message a few days after case number generation, then it's a good possibility that NVC is invoicing your AOS bill. And if this message appears a few days after DS-3032 acceptance, then there's a good chance the IV bill is being invoiced.

Hi guys! So it's been more than a month and the NVC hasn't received my son's approved petition from the USCIS. I have called the NVC every time I had a day off from work and the response is always the same: "we don't have your case number on our system" I have sent the NVC, at their request, an email attaching the approved case Notice of Action, I have also sent a physical copy of it in the mail, with no response whatsoever from the NVC or the USCIS,

Today I called te USCIS -yet again- just to be told that, even though the Notice of Action says that if the NVC hasn't received the case in thirty days, to call them, the system says to call again if I haven't received it in 90 days!!!! I am truly devastated at this point, because this means two more months of waiting on them to feel like doing their freaggin' job!!!!

Does any one know what can I do next? Do I contact my representative? My senator? How do I do that? Is there a template for that? Is it even worthed? Does it work? please help me out, I'm really stressing here...

So ANNOYING. Do you happen to know if the petition was processed at a local office? Seems like those routinely take more than a month to arrive at NVC (they apparently batch them and send them once a month or some similar nonsense).

If you want to get a senator or representative involved, go ask over at the monthly spouse NVC thread to get better information - I can't recall details at the moment (what stage they involved someone) but several members have involved senators and I recall Dianne Feinstein being mentioned. Seems like they got results fairly soon after. It can't hurt to at least contact a senator's offce. Maybe it at least forces USCIS or NVC to locate your files and log them in the system.

By the way - someone on this very thread (thegordons2009) had success sending the Choice of Agent and Address e-mail template using just the USCIS numbers after the NOA-2. Don't know if that helps your case since you know they *don't* have your case logged in the system, but if that actually works maybe it gets you a jump on timing when they finally have your file and generate the NVC numbers?

GOOD LUCK to you in getting this sorted out! I can only imagine how frustrated you are now.

ETA: worriedmominoc - you too! I am sorry you guys have to wait so long ... but everything above applies to you as well... I hope you figure out something to do or that it all works out quickly without you having to do anything else...

Thanks so much for posting your experience! And I'm glad to hear it all worked out in the end.

I hope it's OK that I added an excerpt about the passport and SS card to the wiki page for IR-2 visas. Of course edit it if you don't want all of that to appear there... I think we should make a wiki page for CCA info, as that topic comes up frequently. I don't have time to do it right now, but if you are interested that would be great. Also VJ could use a CRBA wiki page. That way this information is always available to future visitors without having to search through old threads (can you tell I'm a fan of the wiki?)

When NVC schedules an interview after your case has been completed with them, is the email they send you immediate or can you find out the interview date sooner by calling?

We found out approximately 2.5 hours earlier by calling - I spoke with NVC at around 11 am and the e-mail arrived at 1:30.

I had been worried all along that the e-mail was going to arrive a week later (as it did for all the other steps), but nope, this one came the same day. But still, by calling, I got a little jump on calling the travel agent and searching for airfare! Plus by calling them and bugging NVC, I just felt more like I was doing something. Or I could have just trusted that they would send me a message.

BTW, I was also obsessively checking the CEAC status site to see if the status chanced from "At NVC" ... mine STILL hasn't changed and I'm pretty sure I tracked the package arriving at the embassy last week. Seems like some people's statuses change to "in transit" or something else after the interview is scheduled but not ours, at least not yet.

Oh fantastic!

What is it that I keep seeing then that they only assign them during the first 2 weeks.

Hrmmmmmmmmmmmm

Actually, until very recently, it was mostly the few days at the beginning of the month AND at the end... but this month, so many found out about their interview dates at the middle of the month ... If you look at the June Interview thread, note how for the May CCs, every one of them so far learned of their interview date on the 13th or 14th. I was ready to give up until next month but we just received our date on the 14th... hope yours gets assigned soon!

Booked our nearly $4K worth of plane tickets! European travel in the summer = EXPENSIVE!

We leave in about 10 days. Medical appointment 8 am June 4. We have an apartment lined up in Sofia and we plan to make a vacation out of the trip as wel once the interview is overl. I guess that is all for now, beyond digging up more photos and trying to find anything else that might help.

My stepson has arranged to take all his exams early so he will be free to leave after June 15, and we will all come back together--- ASSUMING no DNA test. If we are required to do that, uuuuuuuuugh, I can't even imagine how much extra money that will cost... new ticket for the kid (everything is sold out so there is no ability to change it), my husband or I would have to fly back AGAIN, as we can't hunker down there for a month or so waiting. ... anyway fingers crossed that we didn't make a huge mistake in buying all these tickets.

So June 5/6 will be an exciting time around here with us, lucy4 and evoria all having interviews. Ours is at 2 pm local time, so that is 7 am Eastern time. I'll try to post as soon as we find out something.

Excellent, Kazulie! I posted all the general info in the wiki page and included a link to this thread, so it may live on in history for future IR-2/CR-2 petitioners.

HERE IS THE IR-2/CR-2 WIKI PAGE

Side note: I wrote the embassy an email this morning at 3 am (one month after DNA test was administered) and literally BEGGED them to let my boys come and drop off their passports for visa insertion. I even used the words "I beg you" in the email. lol

When I woke up this morning, I had an email from them telling me to have the boys drop of their passports anytime Monday - Thursday at 1pm.

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA MAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA ZINGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG!!!

THAT IS SUCH GREAT NEWS! FINALLY!!

I am so glad to hear this

This is really fun! I think I found our package - sent to Sofia, Bulgaria last night. There haven't been many sent to Bulgaria, and we just got our interview date today, so I thiink this might be our package.

Hi MOMOE - I have heard of people getting the NVC to send their packages to the embassy with something missing, so it's certainly worth a try. Post over in the NVC thread and ask there; there are so many more people who might have had experience with that.

Police certificates are so annoying. Sometimes they take so long to obtain, and then they expire after (usually) 6 months, so some people have had to get multiples.

I think your daughter has to *enter* at a POE before she is 21. Look here. Sounds like that is also a reason that they will expedite, so that is also something to investigate.

I don't know if kids can actually be denied - seems like the worst case would be to be required to take a DNA test (which is a total pain, but I don't know if they could deny after that...)

She will get a visa in her passport after the interview, which will be stamped at the Point of Entry.

So get that girl here before she turns 21! You are on track, it should be fine to get her here before December. Ask for an expedite if you don't get an interview before September/October (but you should have one by August, I would imagine if you can get that police certificate sorted out). Even if she has to go back to SA for a bit after that, make sure she at least enters the U.S. and activates her visa before that birthday.

We waited too long for my husband's older child (actually his mother was very opposed to either kid even visiting until last year... different story...), now he's 21 and we have almost no options for him. He hasn't been able to get a tourist visa yet ... another different story . Oh well. The younger son gets all the benefits!

Update for 2013...

The Vita link below works, Greenberg does not but I haven't found a better one. The phone numbers are listed on the current sheet for Bulgaria medical exams: http://travel.state.gov/pdf/medical/SOF-MED-BULG-0001-1003.pdf , found through the Department of State Medical Examination general information page

One of the Vita phone numbers is different; they are: 960-49-50 and 846-53-76 on the sheet from the embassy, but different from that on their website... use the first number and that should work

“VITA” MULTIDISCIPLINARY HOSPITAL

Telephones:
+359 2 960-49-50; 960-49-51; 943-43-98

Mobile - +359 888 991 003
Fax: +359 2 944 13 43
е-mail: vita@vita.bg ; office@vita.bg

Greenberg has moved to its own building, so everything has changed since 2009

Медицински център
Д-Р И. С. ГРИЙНБЕРГ
Младост 2, бул. Александър
Малинов 80
Dr. I.C. Greenberg Medical Center
Mladost 2, 80 Alexander Malinov Blvd.
tel: 974-49-33, 0898 77 68 24

The price list appears to be the same, though some of the vaccinations do not appear on the current list.

Other info appears to be the same. THREE passport-sized photos for the medical (plus two for the interview).

Dear folks,

I decided to start this thread in order to help future Bulgarian beneficiaries with passing their medical for the interview, no matter if it's a DVP Green card, K-1, K-3, CR-1 or IR-1 visa.

Before your interview you will need to get a medical exam at one of two places in Sofia. The only clinics that provide the exams are:

VITAand GREENBERG



Contact information:


VITA

Company Name Multiprofilehospital for active treatment "VITA"
Telephones (02) 960-49-50; 943-43-98
E-mail vita@vita.bg

Address 9, Dragovitza street, Sofia 1505




GREENBERG

Company Name Diagnostic and Consultative Medical Center "Dr. I. S. Greenberg"
Contact Person Ellen Greenberg Ph.D.
Position Director
PR Director Ellen Greenberg Ph.D.
HR Director Ellen Greenberg Ph.D.
Telephone 098-776-811; 974-4816
E-mail Egreenberg@mbox.cit.bg

Address 25th Policlinic, 1st Floor, Wing C, Mladost 3, Sofia



Prices: http://bulgaria.usembassy.gov/clinics.html

Required Tests: ________________VITA___________GREENBERG
Chest X-ray and radiology consult_____$15__________________$15
Serological test for syphilis___________$ 9___________________$ 9
HIV test__________________________$17__________________$16
Physical examination _______________$37__________________$34
TOTAL:__________________________$78__________________$74

Vaccines:
Diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis_______$4___________________$4
Measles, rubella and mumps__________$21__________________$20
Polio_____________________________$12__________________$12
Hepatitis A________________________$42__________________$41
Hepatitis B________________________$28__________________$27
Haemophylus influenza type B_________$17__________________$17
Pneumococcal_____________________$26__________________$24
Influenza_________________________$12__________________$12
Human Papilomavirus_______________$190_________________$189
Meningococcal_____________________$23__________________$24
Rotavirus_________________________$98__________________$96


All Immigrant visa applicants must submit 3 (three) passport-size photos at the clinic.
If you have your vaccine records then you should bring them with you to the exam to assist the doctor in deciding what vaccines you need.
The doctor will take an x-ray of your chest (which you will take with you to the interview AND on the plane in your hands through customs).
The doctor will give you the shots that you need and a regular medical exam.
The total price will vary. It is possible that if you are a woman under 25 that you will have to get the HPV vaccine that costs a lot.
This one is the most expensive. So it is best to be prepared to pay more if necessary.
At the end of the exam the doctor will give you an envelope with your vaccine and medical record inside that you will give to the officer at the embassy.
DO NOT OPEN this envelope even after it is given back to you with your passport in the mail after the interview.


I hope all current and future members will be active in this thread and will share their personal experience with us

OK, I called NVC... AGAIN... and finally got good news, that my interview has been scheduled. Careful what you wish for - it's in 3 weeks! crapocrapocrap, we have to buy a plane ticket for my husband to attend the interview and now I will have to go separately to bring my stepson home, as that is way too early for him to leave school. But happy dance for actually knowing a date!! (thanks lucy4 - you were my lucky charm!)

just to clarify - it's not "MY" interview - it's for my stepson... but I did all the work so I take ownership of all these processes

OK, I called NVC... AGAIN... and finally got good news, that my interview has been scheduled. Careful what you wish for - it's in 3 weeks! crapocrapocrap, we have to buy a plane ticket for my husband to attend the interview and now I will have to go separately to bring my stepson home, as that is way too early for him to leave school. But happy dance for actually knowing a date!! (thanks lucy4 - you were my lucky charm!)

DO NOT DELETE: ***USE MOST RECENT LIST AT THE BOTTOM***


Instructions:
If you want to share your case complete and interview dates:
1. Go to LAST PAGE or before and click "Quote/Reply" on the MOST RECENT LIST.
2. Ask for help only if you will mess up the list
3. Please make sure you are using Rich Text Editor as your message setting(Settings>Posting Settings->Enable visual (RTE))
4. Remove

(top and bottom) around the list by clicking back space just before "do not delete"
5. Always use [Courier New] Font. (It will stay lined up correctly if you use the correct font.)
6. Add in order by NVC case complete date.
7. Add the date you received your interview date so others can see from case complete to assignment time-frame.

August Cases Waiting on Interview:
NAME................COMPLETE....RECEIVED....INTERVIEW...VISA TYPE....EMBASSY
missing you babe....08/14/12....04/01/13....05/21/13....IR-1.........Yemen

December Cases Waiting on Interview:
NAME................COMPLETE....RECEIVED....INTERVIEW...VISA TYPE....EMBASSY
Gringa Chapina......12/11/12....04/19/13....05/22/13....IR-1.........Guatemala

March Cases Waiting on Interview:
NAME................COMPLETE....RECEIVED....INTERVIEW...VISA TYPE....EMBASSY
meltemapo...........03/01/13....05/01/13....06/03/13....IR-1/CR-1....Turkey
John & Jeni.........03/01/13....03/29/13....05/14/13....IR-1/CR-1....Greece
oohpartiv...........03/05/13....04/24/13....05/29/13....IR-1.........Ecuador
K n E...............03/08/13....04/02/13....05/17/13....IR-1/CR-1....Pakistan
Highyella72.........03/11/13....04/02/13....05/06/13....IR-1/CR-1....Nigeria
FeFrSaKa............03/12/13....04/30/13....06/11/13....IR-1.........Ecuador
Aladlhassan.........03/13/13....04/02/13....05/20/13....IR-1/CR-1....Morocco
Judy2Rock...........03/13/13....04/02/13....05/21/13....IR-1/CR-1....Jamaica
TeamMcGregor........03/15/13....03/29/13....05/15/13....IR-1/CR-1....Dominican Rep.
Mina90..............03/15/13....04/01/13....05/05/13....IR-1/CR-1....Bangladesh
martha brown03......03/18/13....xx/xx/13....xx/xx/13....IR-1/CR-1....Kenya
MeredythB...........03/20/13....04/01/13....05/07/13....IR-1/CR-1....Ireland
Vicki&Nanuka........03/20/13....04/30/13....06/17/13....IR-1/CR-1....Nigeria
Mar_Wil.............03/20/13....03/30/13....05/02/13....IR-1.........Philippines
Sunflower123........03/20/13....03/29/13....05/13/13....IR-1/CR-1....Mexico
Roosha..............03/22/13....03/29/13....05/19/13....IR-1/CR-1....Qatar
kwakuoj.............03/22/13....04/01/13....05/15/13....IR-1/CR-1....Ghana
Oriz................03/22/13....04/01/13....05/06/13....IR-1.........Israel
babyjk .............03/26/13....04/01/13....05/08/13....IR-1/CR-1....Barbados
elle13 .............03/26/13....04/01/13....05/02/13....IR-1/CR-1....Malaysia
Bongnhanna..........03/26/13....04/02/13....05/28/13....IR-1/CR-1....Phnom Penh
Toff................03/26/13....04/10/13....05/07/13....IR-1/CR-1....Australia
MikeJill............03/27/13....04/01/13....05/14/13....IR-1/CR-1....UK
Mrs&Mr..............03/27/13....03/29/13....05/24/13....IR-1/CR-1....Greece
RajNav..............03/29/13....04/01/13....05/10/13....IR-1/CR-1....India
Aleigh36............03/29/13....04/01/13....05/15/13....IR-1/CR-1....UK
watergirl76.........03/29/13....04/03/13....05/08/13....IR-1/CR-1....Canada
lonelyboy2003.......03/29/13....04/30/13....06/11/13....IR-1/CR-1....Ho ChiMinh,Vt Nam

April Cases Waiting on Interview:
NAME................COMPLETE....RECEIVED....INTERVIEW...VISA TYPE....EMBASSY
s$susauk............04/01/13....04/01/13....05/28/13....IR-1/CR-1....UK
floyd...............04/01/13....04/01/13....05/09/13....IR-1/CR-1....India
Chetsky.............04/02/13....05/01/13....06/03/13....IR-1.........Philippines
NYCBound............04/02/13....04/12/13....05/15/13....IR-1.........Canada
valprime............04/03/13....04/12/13....05/30/13....IR-1/CR-1....Canada
romanticminds.......04/03/13....xx/xx/xx....xx/xx/13....IR-1.........Cambodia
Aprice138...........04/04/13....04/10/13....05/21/13....IR-1/CR-1....New Zealand
YA 1127.............04/04/13....05/01/13....06/21/13....IR-1/CR-1....Dominican Rep.
lyra................04/05/13....04/11/13....05/16/13....IR-1/CR-1....Malaysia
dopeyzn.............04/06/13....04/10/13....05/02/13....IR-1/CR-1....Switzerland
SMANNE..............04/08/13....04/30/13....06/21/13....IR-1/CR-1....Nigeria
srloring13..........04/09/13....04/30/13....06/13/13....IR-1/CR-1....Nigeria
Zara1124............04/09/13....04/10/13....05/29/13....IR-1/CR-1....Pakistan
sai.mi28............04/09/13....05/01/13....06/04/13....CR-1.........Philippines
Panda Sky3..........04/10/13....04/11/13....05/13/13....IR-1/CR-1....Myanmar
arriyan.............04/10/13....04/29/13....06/21/13....IR-1/CR-1....Singapore
EmilyMary...........04/11/13....xx/xx/13....xx/xx/13....IR-1/CR-1....Bermuda
teysha..............04/12/13....xx/xx/13....xx/xx/13....IR-1/CR-1....Haiti
SundayBelinda.......04/12/13....04/30/13....06/06/13....IR-1/CR-1....Nigeria
NikiR...............04/15/13....05/01/13....06/03/13....CR-1.........Canada
ErinBeth............04/15/13....04/30/13....06/11/13....CR-1.........Morocco
JandRP..............04/15/13....xx/xx/13....xx/xx/13....IR-1/CR-1....Jamaica
fav13259............04/15/13....xx/xx/13....06/24/13....IR-1/CR-1....Mexico
Pluis...............04/15/13....04/29/13....06/25/13....IR-1/CR-1....The Netherlands
Jbda................04/16/13....05/01/13....06/24/13....IR-1/CR-1....Turkey
champi..............04/16/13....05/01/13....06/03/13....IR-5.........India
Avram...............04/17/13....04/29/13....06/26/13....IR-1/CR-1....Macedonia
Jonelo..............04/18/13....04/30/13....06/12/13....IR-1/CR-1....Romania
A & C...............04/18/13....05/02/13....06/03/13....CR-1.........Canada
MGRD................04/19/13....04/29/13....06/24/13....IR-1/CR-1....Haiti
Ess.................04/19/13....05/01/13....06/13/13....IR-1/CR-1....Pakistan
Mady................04/22/13....04/29/13....06/04/13....IR-1/CR-1....Egypt
Icede...............04/22/13....05/01/13....06/04/13....IR-1/CR-1....Lithuania
Ludakrishna.........04/23/13....05/01/13....06/12/13....IR-1/CR-1....India
T & P...............04/23/13....05/01/13....06/12/13....IR-1/CR-1....India
Sarsoor............ 04/24/13....04/29/13....06/17/13....IR-1/CR-1....Egypt
hikergirl...........04/25/13....05/01/13....06/19/13....CR-1.........Canada
SerenityNOW.........04/26/13....05/14/13....06/05/13....IR-2.........Bulgaria
Dr. H and Mrs. H....04/29/13....04/30/13....06/06/13....IR-1/CR-1....Malaysia
lucy................04/29/13....05/10/13....06/05/13....IR-2.........Barbados
daphoknee...........04/30/13....05/01/13....06/17/13....IR-1.........Canada
squirrelisan........04/30/13....05/10/13....06/03/13....CR-1.........South Korea
Aball...............04/30/13....05/10/13....06/10/13....IR-1/CR-1....Ireland
LunarStar...........04/30/13....05/13/13....06/10/13....CR-1.........Japan

May cases waiting on interview:
NAME COMPLETE RECEIVED INTERVIEW VISA TYPE EMBASSY
Tanithw.............05/01/13....xx/xx/13....06/03/13....CR-1.........UK
Zamar...............05/01/13....05/13/13....06/06/13....IR-1/CR-1....India
Eliano..............05/02/13....05/13/13....06/05/13....CR-1/IR-1....Georgia
Ixsa................05/03/13....xx/xx/13....xx/xx/13....CR-1/IR-1....Dominican Republic
Speedwell...........05/06/13....05/13/13....06/14/13....CR-1.........UK
ppihtr123...........05/06/13....xx/xx/13....xx/xx/13....CR-2/IR-2....Philippines
raosaab0202.........05/06/13....05/13/13....06/20/13....CR-1/IR-1....India
Haksar..............05/06/13....05/13/13....06/28/13....IR-1/CR-1....India
civilservant........05/10/13....05/13/13....06/12/13....CR-1.........UK
Zandrao.............05/10/13....05/13/13....06/14/13....IR1/CR-1.....UK
ainsn...............05/10/13....xx/xx/13....xx/xx/13....IR1..........Bangladesh
mrsaloto............05/10/13....xx/xx/13....xx/xx/13....IR-1/CR-1....Kenya

ok, flights booked, accomodations made.. I just need to work on her end now. Make sure she has everything she needs and add her to my existing all-inclusive hotel accomodations. Her mother is getting her ticket, so I've been following up with her on that. We are all going, (bio dad, myself, and our daughter) and making a vacation out of it. Its a chance for her sister to get to know her a little bit, since the last time she saw her, she was 1.

I will start packing this weekend, and try to make sure I have everything embassy related. I asked her to get about 5 more passport photos, and I have to remember to have her pack her old passport. What else do we need?

Exciting!! And good news - we got the same interview date as you! Hope June 5 is a happy day for us both

All I am sending to the interview is tax transcripts (you don't need since you sent an I-864) and a selection of photos in plastic sheets - of father and son, maybe 20 total. Oh, and the original of the notarized declaration from the biomom saying the kid is free to immigrate. And more passport photos. Maybe all the copies of the paperwork filed? Though that is probably unnecessary.