justsomebody

we also used situ- i didn't know about VJ at the time and just blindly chose one off the list. BIG MISTAKE. he and his entire staff were rude and very unprofessional. My husband is a darker skinned peruvian and he was treated with total disrespect and I do believe this office (as with countless other limeno institutions.. don't even get me started on the Sheraton) operates a very discriminatory practice.. unfortunate. I don't know if the other civil surgeons in Lima are like this, but avoid Situ at all costs! I would really like to start a petition to revoke his civil surgeon status..

bmadeline,

Report your experience to the embassy. I did this via the website and I received a reply back. The embassy said that I was the first to file a complaint about Dr Situ.

This is web link for sending a message to the embassy: Lima Embassy Feedback Form

This is the contents of the first reply I received from the embassy

This is the contents of the second reply I received from the embassy

The embassy failed to address my complaint about getting 2 vaccines that were not needed and clearly shown on my fiancee's vaccine record.

We need more people to submit complaints and hopefully this doctor will be removed from the list during the next annual review.

msmuth: Did your fiancee call the embassy to get an interview date? or Did she wait for the embassy to send her the packet with the appointment letter? Our papers just arrived to Lima last friday.. so Im waiting for the packet.. but my fiance and I want my interview to be at the end of this month.. Do you think I should call them on monday and ask for an appointment date?

We called the embassy to find out the appointment date. If we would have waited for the packet to arrive in the mail in Iquitos, we would not have had enough time to get everything done. We were lucky to get an appointment date for the medical exam, only 2 days before the interview. We did try to change the date to about 2 weeks further out from the original date of 29th August, but we were told that if we wanted a later date it would be at the end of September. We also asked for an earlier date, but this was not possible. So, good luck in trying to change the date. But, I would call to find out your appointment date because as you know, the mail for some reason is not reliable in Peru, especially if you live outside of Lima. Call between 2 - 3PM, these are the immigrant visa hours. I know that you would think the K1 visa is non-immigrant, but the embassy treats it like an immigrant visa. If you talk to a person and he/she says that your packet is not at the embassy yet, call again the next day, and keep calling. This is what we did.

The London embassy shows a fee list for vaccines: http://london.usembassy.gov/cons_new/visa/iv/vaccfees.html

So, the setting of vaccine prices must be embassy independent.

I believe since the embassy does set the fee for the medical exam, the fees for the vaccines should also be fixed. This would eliminate the potential fraud against US citizens by foreign clinics. This just makes good sense to me. Why deal with complaints to remove a provider when complaints about cost can be eliminated by setting the price and making it known? Pro-active versus Re-active is always better in this situation.

Actually I think you ahve it bassackwards... the embassy is simply reporting the current fee schedule from the provider....

Pro-active vs. re-active? Please, we are talking about an agency within the US government

A fee schedule from the provider or from the embassy. Either way this solves the problem of knowing what should be paid for the vaccines. It would be rather difficult for the provider to over-charge when the fees are known and posted as they are for the London embassy. And, if the provider did over-charge, the embassy would know because the fees are posted on the embassy's website.

All I am suggesting is that it is a benefit to the petitioner to have known fees by both the embassy and the provider.

As far as pro-active, this is a mute point since we are already dealing with a re-active situation. None the less, hopefully my actions can prevent others from dealing with the same problems.

The London embassy shows a fee list for vaccines: http://london.usembassy.gov/cons_new/visa/iv/vaccfees.html

So, the setting of vaccine prices must be embassy independent.

I believe since the embassy does set the fee for the medical exam, the fees for the vaccines should also be fixed. This would eliminate the potential fraud against US citizens by foreign clinics. This just makes good sense to me. Why deal with complaints to remove a provider when complaints about cost can be eliminated by setting the price and making it known? Pro-active versus Re-active is always better in this situation.

Did your fiancee/fiance get a K1 visa without completing the vaccines?

Both wife and son received there visas without any vaccinations.... My son updated his here before AOS.

Cost is always a consideration and if you can save a buck or two then do it... but in the end did you?

The embassy is not going to dictate the price the clinic charges for vaccinations... If the embassy receives sufficient complaints about the service provider they will simply will end there relationship.

Do you have any ideas of who the "correct person" to contact at the local consul would be?

During the interview I did tell the experience with the clinic during the medical exam and the interviewer stated that she was not a doctor so she can not tell if the doctor is wrong or right.

Of course I have no way to argue the cost of the vaccines unless the local embassy provides a price chart so I know what the correct price is.

I will research and find the correct contact, because what this clinic did was just plain wrong.

Nobody should be caused additional pain in their arms by getting un-needed vaccines by a clinic that either can't read a vaccine record or just wants to rob their patients.

Contact the US Consul. Medical malfeasance is no laughing matter. Orient the medical staff at these practices that there are others out there telling their stories about this corruption.

Critical mass can be reached for better action if enough people flood Consuls with complaints of these sorts.

Yes, I have read and heard this as well, that the vaccines are only "required" for AOS. So if this is known, then why are most all people getting these vaccines at the medical exam for the K1 visa? Did your fiancee/fiance get a K1 visa without completing the vaccines? Does anyone know someone that did not get these vaccines for a K1?

My thought was, "well she is going to need the vaccines anyway, so she might as well get them in Peru where they are cheaper". So, she had all of the vaccines done except for the Human papillomavirus prior to the medical exam.

Adding insult to injury would be that a K-1 has no vaccination requirement..

Yes, my fiancee did get all the vaccines at a local clinic to try and avoid the higher cost of the embassy listed clinics. She had her official vaccine record with her showing all the vaccines, but the doctor still gave her 2 that she already had. That is just wrong. When we went back to demand our money back for these vaccines at first the doctor was trying to say that they were needed. I think he looked at me (the american) and realized that we were not going to play games, and he quickly changed what he was saying in mid-sentence.

Do you think it's possible to get the vaccines at another place where they're not so costly before the medical? It's the same drill with both doctors in Colombia where they even tell you the vaccines you got 2-3 weeks before the medical are "too old" and then make you get them again at their office, paying their prices. Some people then choose to go to places like the Red Cross where you can get the same vaccines for less money in most cases.

Diana

If you are in Peru and trying to decide which doctor to use for your medical exam, I advise you to NOT use doctor Oscar Situ. We did use doctor Oscar Situ because of our schedule and needing the medical exam on a certain day and 3 bad things happened:

1. Even though my fiancee had her vaccine records that clearly showed she already had the MMR(Measles, Mumps, and Rubella) as well as Varicella, this doctor still gave her these vaccines again! Varicella is for the chickenpox. My fiancee already had the actual illness for the chickpox and has the scars to prove it, as well as the vaccine. Her vaccines are current, both April of this year (only 4 months old).

2. We think that we were over-charged for the Human Papillomavirus vaccine, 500 soles. We went back to the office and complained about receiving 2 un-needed vaccines and were given 200 soles back. So the total amount paid for the 3 vaccines was 700 soles. After the refund for 2 un-needed vaccines, we ended up paying 500 soles for 1 dose of the Human Papillomavirus vaccine.

3. The woman that draws blood doesn't know what she is doing. She put the band around my fiancee's arm to find the vein and was waiting for the tube to fill with blood without removing the band on the arm. She left a bruise about the size of 2 quarters on my fiancee's arm. I believe that kind of bruising is an indicator that the nurse does not know how to take blood.

If you must see Oscar Situ I would recommend:

1. Get a list of prices for the vaccines needed (if you can manage to get this at all)

2. Make sure you understand what vaccines they are going to give before you let them be given. They obviously don't care about looking at the vaccine records before giving the vaccines.

3. Make sure that your receipt list each vaccine given and the individual price. The receipt I was given only said "Vacunas" with 1 price, 700 soles. When the receipt is like this, it makes it easier for this clinic to lie about the cost of individual vaccines.

The CDC website states that the cost of the Human Papillomavirus should be about $125 per dose. So, I do not understand why the price in Peru would be closer to $180 for 1 dose. Calling the other 2 doctors on the list, we found out the cost is close to 400 soles.

This doctor also told my fiancee that all 3 of the vaccines she was given were together as 1 vaccine, like the MMR vaccine. Hmmm, that is strange, since she had 3 separate shots, 1 for each vaccine.

In my opinion, Dr Oscar Situ should lose is ability to service for the United States Embassy.

I have seen a few people post about paying the fee at Banco Continental of about $130. I think I saw something else about a $300 fee.

Can someone who has been through the interview process for a K1 fiance visa in Lima Peru tell me what fees I should be prepared to pay in Lima?

Thank you.

Has anyone been successful in talking to a person when calling the embassy in Lima, Peru?

If so, what phone number did you call?

What options did you press for the automated process?

What time of day did you call?

What day of the week did you call?

Did you call during the hours for an Immigrant or Non-Immigrant Visa?

I am trying to talk to a person at the embassy to find out 2 things in regards to a K1 I-129F:

1. Have the papers from the NVC been received.

2. What is the scheduled interview date.

I know that on the Embassy website it says:

Immigrant Visa Unit (Permanent Residency):

Phone hours: Monday to Friday 2-3 p.m.

Phone: (51-1) 434-3000

Non-Immigrant Visa Unit (Visitor Visas):

Phone hours: Monday to Friday 3-4 p.m.

Phone: (51-1) 434-3000

Thank you for any help.

Great thanks for all the replies! That was very helpful and reassuring. And a great excuse for more time in Peru!

Nick

Copies of the passport showing entry and exit are also a good thing as proof of visiting her. Pictures are considered secondary evidence and don't give as many points. Copies of passport showing entry/exit, plane boarding passes, hotel receipts, any other receipts. Then throw in some pictures of course and you will be fine.

What are some problems that anyone else here has had? I have read allot of crazy stuff about the police certificates from Peru. Has anyone collected these recently? Any advice is greatly appreciated, Thank You.

About the certificates, our experience from Iquitos is this:

CERTIFICADO JUDICIAL DE ANTECEDENTES PENALES - Very fast, we got it the same day from Iquitos.

CERTIFICADO DE ANTECEDENTES POLICIALES - We were told it would take 15 days to get this from Iquitos. We are waiting after submitting all forms.

CERTIFICADO DE ANTECEDENTES JUDICIALES A NIVEL NACIONAL - This one we were told more than 1 month if we try to get it from Iquitos, but 5 days if we get it in Lima. If we thought that we had 2 months before the interview, then we would have obtained all 3 certificates in Iquitos.

So, the interesting thing here is, you should be able to get all the police certificates locally if you don't live in Lima. Just make sure you start early enough.

Also, keep in mind that your fiance/fiancee does not need to travel to Lima for the certificates. If you know someone in Lima, that person can submit all the papers for you.

Another thing we found out was that nobody ask for the interview letter before giving these certificates.

There are 3 types of CERTIFICADO DE ANTECEDENTES POLICIALES. You want to get the "VIAJE AL EXTRANJERO" I think.

I also think the certificates are only good for 3 months....I might be wrong, but keep this in mind so you don't get them too early.

msmuth, I really appreciate your advice and nice post. I think it was full of wisdom and so does my fiance, who happened to read it. If you want to hear briefly a part of the story, from his perspective, yes, financial stress and stress caused by his job and other situations going on made him act that way but it didn't mean he meant to be like that on purpose. We do love one another, but are just confused for how things went those first 2 months, we wish to have more time to see how things would work out in better conditions, we do wish to be with one another, so we thought that we should get married after all and see how things went after agreements from both sides to help the relationship. Now, the legal issue, we have time against us, I actually like my country a lot and I miss my family and my school there, too, but my fiance became my priority. Yeah, life is not a bed of roses. We got a marriage license today and were told we could go to see a judge tomorrow and ask for a waiver so we can get married during the 90 days of my K1 visa.

We do hope it will work, I don't think marriage guarantees anything anyway, for anyone, it's something you continuously work on through life and at least I'm sure of it. Now, about the divorce, it sounds though to me to think about it since I'm not married yet, but I particularly don't think one should get half of the goods the other person has, unless there are devastating reasons like betrayal or infidelity, or the like, or perhaps if there are children that will need the money. Don't think it is actually fair to stick to that law and even though I've given up lots of things for this relationship, such as scholarships, education, family, friends and country, I think that law you have in the US, of 50/50 is unfair, unless you both worked somehow to get the things during the marriage =/

Anyway, thanks for your advice, and I certainly hope you are just doing good, too.

Johana,

I know that we are getting off of your main subject, but I just wanted to let you know that i agree with you. I also don't believe that everything should be split 50/50 just because that is the law. You are right, everything should be looked at as far as who contributed what in the marriage. Sometimes it is not so easy to put a monetary value on feelings and to quantify the importance of what what one person thinks something should be versus the other. Hopefully you never need to think about or talk about divorce your entire life. Grow old together. When you are too old to do much, sit together and smile talking about all your memories together, vacations you took together, the crazy things your children did. Enjoy life together and prioritize what you let consume your thoughts. Your thoughts will dictate your feelings and affect everyone around you. Make a choice to not stay angry over the small things because it is always better to be happy. And when those bad times happen, use the memories of the good times to drown the bad things out. Never stop talking and never go to bed angry.

Take care. Hugs.

Ok, here is my 2 cents. There is no such thing as anything perfect, so no perfect relationship exist. People have problems sometimes and problems can be solved. None of us here have all the facts of the problems in this relationship and we are only hearing 1 side. We do not know what is happening in the fiance's head to cause any of his actions. We don't even know what his actions were other than the vague "not nice, cruel, and mean". Who knows what really happened? Maybe he was having a stressful time at work. Maybe there are money problems that he doesn't want to reveal and it comes out a different way verbally. So, don't be so quick to rush to judgment about a situation when you don't even know 10% of facts.

From a pure logical view point, I would say that she should get married. As bad as it is, there is always divorce if things don't work out. So it is not as if marriage is the end of choices. If it does turn out that he is abusive later on in the marriage, then this is what divorce was designed for. The flip side is if she doesn't get married, she will never know if she lost the man she wanted to be with.

I think everyone should keep in mind that the man has a lot to lose as well if a divorce happens, half of his things. I think she should point out to him before the marriage that if things return to an unbearable state that she will file for divorce and take half of all his things and return to her country. If he still agrees to the marriage, then this is good reason to have some trust in his change.

Marriage can be a very stressful time for men. It is a major change in a person's life. Living together with another person for the first time can add new stress for someone unprepared. Only time and two people finding solutions together can solve some of these issues in life.

And like other people already said, you will have already over-stayed your visa, so take a few more days if you need before getting married.

I hope and pray that you can be strong and find peace in your heart with whatever decision you make.

WOW- So this is what is in your head. May I ask you what you brought to the marriage?

Maybe he should get half of your things?

This is not in my head, this is the law on paper, in black and white. My point is for her to understand that if a man is ready to make a commitment of marriage understanding what there is to lose if he does not treat her right, might bring some confidence to her and allow her to make a better decision about trusting him.

I am simply showing the facts so a decision can be made clearly.

Who cares what is in my head? This is not about me. What are you talking about? What did I bring to the marriage. We are talking about 2 people that are not married yet, not me. No other man is going to get half of my things, because I am not going to marry a man. I am a man. But through experience of divorce myself, I can tell you that the law is pretty clear. In divorce things get split 50/50 is most cases unless each person decides differently.

Ok, here is my 2 cents. There is no such thing as anything perfect, so no perfect relationship exist. People have problems sometimes and problems can be solved. None of us here have all the facts of the problems in this relationship and we are only hearing 1 side. We do not know what is happening in the fiance's head to cause any of his actions. We don't even know what his actions were other than the vague "not nice, cruel, and mean". Who knows what really happened? Maybe he was having a stressful time at work. Maybe there are money problems that he doesn't want to reveal and it comes out a different way verbally. So, don't be so quick to rush to judgment about a situation when you don't even know 10% of facts.

From a pure logical view point, I would say that she should get married. As bad as it is, there is always divorce if things don't work out. So it is not as if marriage is the end of choices. If it does turn out that he is abusive later on in the marriage, then this is what divorce was designed for. The flip side is if she doesn't get married, she will never know if she lost the man she wanted to be with.

I think everyone should keep in mind that the man has a lot to lose as well if a divorce happens, half of his things. I think she should point out to him before the marriage that if things return to an unbearable state that she will file for divorce and take half of all his things and return to her country. If he still agrees to the marriage, then this is good reason to have some trust in his change.

Marriage can be a very stressful time for men. It is a major change in a person's life. Living together with another person for the first time can add new stress for someone unprepared. Only time and two people finding solutions together can solve some of these issues in life.

And like other people already said, you will have already over-stayed your visa, so take a few more days if you need before getting married.

I hope and pray that you can be strong and find peace in your heart with whatever decision you make.

All good but the overstay would begin on the 26th. This is only the 23rd.

Yes, I understand that she currently has not over-stayed her visa. But, based on her previous post, by the time she would get married, she will have already over-stayed.

"will have", has not happened yet.

Ok, here is my 2 cents. There is no such thing as anything perfect, so no perfect relationship exist. People have problems sometimes and problems can be solved. None of us here have all the facts of the problems in this relationship and we are only hearing 1 side. We do not know what is happening in the fiance's head to cause any of his actions. We don't even know what his actions were other than the vague "not nice, cruel, and mean". Who knows what really happened? Maybe he was having a stressful time at work. Maybe there are money problems that he doesn't want to reveal and it comes out a different way verbally. So, don't be so quick to rush to judgment about a situation when you don't even know 10% of facts.

From a pure logical view point, I would say that she should get married. As bad as it is, there is always divorce if things don't work out. So it is not as if marriage is the end of choices. If it does turn out that he is abusive later on in the marriage, then this is what divorce was designed for. The flip side is if she doesn't get married, she will never know if she lost the man she wanted to be with.

I think everyone should keep in mind that the man has a lot to lose as well if a divorce happens, half of his things. I think she should point out to him before the marriage that if things return to an unbearable state that she will file for divorce and take half of all his things and return to her country. If he still agrees to the marriage, then this is good reason to have some trust in his change.

Marriage can be a very stressful time for men. It is a major change in a person's life. Living together with another person for the first time can add new stress for someone unprepared. Only time and two people finding solutions together can solve some of these issues in life.

And like other people already said, you will have already over-stayed your visa, so take a few more days if you need before getting married.

I hope and pray that you can be strong and find peace in your heart with whatever decision you make.

Hi Msmuth...she can get all her certificates in Iquitos, ...#1 just 1 day....#2 two weeks...but the #3 could take more than 1 month if she try to obtein it there...I suggest you, if she has a relative in Lima, she can pay the fee (29.77...but she could call first to know the exact fee) and send the receipt, 1 passport picture and a Notarized Letter giving her realtive authorization to get the Certificate..in Lima it takes just 5 days...

www.inpe.gob.pe...this is the web site of INPE...you can get all the information there..(in Spanish)

Also, the #3 is just for 3 months...

I hope I could help you...

Ely

Now I am confused. I thought "3. CERTIFICADO DE ANTECEDENTES POLICIALES" only takes 1 day and must be done in the local city where she lives?

Also for the "CERTIFICADO DE ANTECEDENTES POLICIALES", there are 3 types listed on the website http://www.pnp.gob.pe/tramites.asp :

1. CERTIFICADO DE ANTECEDENTES POLICIALES PARA USO NACIONAL

2. CERTIFICADO DE ANTECEDENTES POLICIALES PARA VIAJE AL EXTRANJERO

3. CERTIFICADO DE ANTECEDENTES POLICIALES PARA USO EN EL EXTRANJERO

Which "CERTIFICADO DE ANTECEDENTES POLICIALES" should my fiancee get?

Did you just get your numbers mixed up?

Also for the website, did you mean http://www.pnp.gob.pe?

Will she need to have her interview letter from the embassy to obtain any of these certificates?

For the other 2 certificates is there more than 1 choice, like with the example above? If there is more than 1 choice for the other 2 certificates, what is the correct choice?

1. CERTIFICADO JUDICIAL DE ANTECEDENTES PENALES

2. CERTIFICADO DE ANTECEDENTES JUDICIALES A NIVEL NACIONAL

Thank you again. We are just trying to get all of these things finished before receiving the packet because she is in Iquitos and everything is not so close.

If you can and do not mind, can you photo copy your certificates and send them in a private message? I only want to see the top portion of the certificate, no personal information.

I know that my fiancee needs to get 3 police records for the K1 fiancee visa interview in Lima Peru:

1. CERTIFICADO JUDICIAL DE ANTECEDENTES PENALES

2. CERTIFICADO DE ANTECEDENTES JUDICIALES A NIVEL NACIONAL

3. CERTIFICADO DE ANTECEDENTES POLICIALES

I am assuming that #1 and #2 in the list above can only be properly obtained in Lima and that #3 is obtained in the local city my fiancee lives in (as well as any other city she lived in for more than 6 months).

My fiancee lives in Iquitos. She believes that she can get #1 and #3 locally in Iquitos. Does anyone with a fiance/fiancee from Peru that did/does not live in Lima have experience with which certificates MUST be obtained in Lima and which can be obtained in the local city?

Thank you for any and all help.

I see in the example packet for Lima Peru that the papers ask for the I-864 Affidavit of Support. I also see some post of people who have had the interview in Lima, Peru and these people say that they used the I-134 Affidavit of Support.

Which is the correct Affidavit of Support to use, I-134 or I-864? Or do I need to use both?

Thank you.

Well my most current taxes are from 2006 since I havent done my taxes for 2007 because my wife needs to be here in order for me to do my taxes as married. but i did made a copy of my W2 and sent it to my wife last week just in case. I hope thats good enough.

Gracias,

Carlos Torres

Are you sure that H&R Block isn't blowing smoke up your.... You know these people sometimes aren't the best trained. It seems like your in a catch 22 if you really must file your taxes as married. I would think that if your marriage was not done in the USA, then you could easily file your taxes as single. I don't think the IRS is going to have a problem with taking more taxes from you, which is what would happen filing single.

If it were me, I would be telling H&R Block to file my taxes as single and getting a copy of the return sent to my spouse ASAP. If the consulate holds up the visa for the 2007 tax return, you are going to have to do this anyway. I would eliminate this risk.

It just came to mind. My wife is going to her interview on May 9th, 2008 and she basically has most of the paper work that she is going to present for the interview and I have sent the original copies for my 2005 & 2006 taxes but my 2007 taxes I have not done it yet because at H&R block they told me that since Im married I have to do my taxes as being married, (which that's obvious) but since my wife isn't here I cannot do my taxes because I would need my wife's SS#.

Does anybody know if this might be a problem? I'm not sure if they ask her for my taxes for 2007 and since I have not done it yet until she actually gets here, im not sure if this could delay from her coming to the USA.

Any suggestions?

Thank you

Carlos Torres

I can't say for sure, but it would seem like the most recent tax year is the most important for verification that you can support your spouse. How are you filing the I-134, with taxes from 2006?

I would at least make sure that your spouse had a copy of your 2007 W2.

Yeah, same problem for me, just tried it and same exact errors. The website is having problems I guess. Glad to know I am not the only one.

Thanks very much for your answers, guys. Then I will talk to my fiancee and see if its possible that he comes to Peru and being with me on the interview (you know, work schedule). Well first of all we need to get the NOA2

Kisses...

Angela

Angela,

Just so you know. Everything I have read here on VJ says that it is not required for your fiance to be with you during the interview, but it seems like your chances of getting the visa are much better if your fiance is with you.

Hi to everybody:

Last night I was talking to my fiancee about the possibility he could be here in Lima - Peru the day I will have the interview, but for deciding it we need to know what happens after the interview on USA embassy? If they aprove the Visa, they give inmediately the passport stamped with it? Or they say that we should leave my passport on the embassy and then they will send that to our home with the visa stamped on it? Or we have to pick it up from the embassy some days after the interview? If we have to wait for some days, how long is it?

Please, peruvian guys or girls, give me an answer.... I will appreciate it so much...

Thanks

Angela

Everything I have read says that you can pick the visa up at the DHL office 2 days later or wait for it to be mailed to you. You must leave your passport at the embassy because the embassy puts the visa in your passport. I think it is your choice of picking up the visa or having it mailed.

That is very interesting. Do you happen to have the link to the USCIS page you found this on?

I found the FC-029 form on this website. Here is the link:

http://www.visajourney.com/examples/FC-029.pdf

The link is part of this question:

http://www.visajourney.com/faq/k1k2visa-I129f.html#3.2.1