Chamy and Gatita

Greg, I dont know what kind of evidence you have put together, but i can tell you what we did, which was successful. My husband got letters of "honor" from his mayor and "comisario". He got a letter from his boss, his mother, and various friends. The boss and politicians were on official letterhead, some wth official seals. they attested to our relationship and to his "honor."
I got a similar collection from my employer, friends and family. I wear a badge, and you betcha I played that card. (it sounds like this may be a possiblilty for you too.) I included pictures of me in uniform with co-workers. (When went to the interview i brought my badge along and showed them it and my work ID.) I got letters from HR and each of 2 ranks above mine. My letters attested to knowing of my relationship, my visits, and my intention to marry, as well as my character. As much as possible, I stapled a picture of me with the person who wrote the letter, and had those letters put on letterhead. From my uncle, who is a minister, I got a letter on letterhead stating his blessing and intention to perform the ceremony. (We were engaged at that time). Do you get the picture? Overboard, way way overboard. We had about 20 letters total, and i put them in a plastic sleeved packet. Since you have been living together, this would be easier for you. You could ask people in the apt building who see you together, your child's pediatrician, the priest, the people who own the stores where you shop, etc. Get creative and think overkill. I drafted the letters for people and all they had to do was sign it.
regarding the congressmember, I agree with VivaBanos, you really need to place a call not just an email, especially if a delay will killl you. She is exactly right, they need you to sign a form authorizing release of information to them. If you go on your members website, you can download that form. I would "pre-attack" and fax or pfd email the signed form AND all your documents without waiting to talk to the person, especially based on your work environment. VivaBanos is also correct in that if the stafer senses that you are all complaints but no real action (one paper letter or email but no actual phone calls), they WILL NOT put you on the front burner. I have worked extensively with politicians and their staffers in another job and can attest to this fact of life. If you go back thru VJ you will find that various members have been really really screwed by this consulate, adding up to a year to their wait. You must consider this in your decisions, and realize that you should not be passive in ANY WAY. we were lucky, because some very heads-up VJ members pre-alerted us before the interview, and we avoided their sorrows and delays.
One helpful thing we found out in advance was the professional history of the head of the consulate, which reveals his bias, which is obviously reflected in the bias of the staff. He is deeply interested and involved in issues concerning human trafficking. In other words, he wants to bust people who are paying someone to fake a relationship in order to get a visa. Wants to bust...maybe i should say, apparently he's got a hard-on. That's why you need to go overboard on the evidence and to be present for the interview.
As far as your ship schedule being unpredictable and limiting, you may need to take the bull by the horns and plan an interview when you are untouchable on leave in some way. I did not wait for them to call my husband for an appt, I MADE THE APPT myself, based on knowing that I could leave work fast at that time. I called and they offered the following week. I already knew what i would pay for plane tx so there was no hesitation. they will tell you you cant attend, just let that whopper fly, dont argue. its wrong. you may want to ask around on VJ and get other people's opinions, but personally, I would NOT risk scheduling a second interview unless I could definitely be there. If that means you wait 2 mo or whatever your tour is, then so be it. That's what i would do, anyways, but i dont know your whole situation.

Here is what DMV requires, as far as documents:
source: http://dmv.ca.gov/dl/dl_info.htm#BDLP
"Birth date verification and legal presence requirements
The issue of identification reliability, integrity, and confidentiality is of prime concern to all citizens. Eligibility for government services, issuance of various licenses, assessment of taxes, the right to vote, etc., are all determined through evaluations based on identification documents. It is critical that identification documents be authenticated and accurate in identifying each individual. The California driver license and ID card have been declared as primary identification documents in this state by the California legislature.
State law requires every applicant for an original California identification (ID) card and driver license to show verification of birth date and proof of legal presence within the United States to help safeguard the accuracy and integrity of departmental documents.
If your current name no longer matches the name on your birth date/legal presence document, see "True Full Name" and "How to Change Your Name" for more information.
Only the original or a certified copy of one of the following documents is acceptable:
US Birth Certificate
US Certificate or Report of Birth Abroad
Federal Proof of Indian Blood Degree
INS American Indian Card
Birth Certificate or passport issued from a US Territory
US Passport
US Military Identification Cards (Active or reserve duty, dependent, retired member, discharged from service, medical/religious personnel)
Common Access Card (only if designated as Active military or Active Reserve or Active Selected Reserve)
Certificate of Naturalization or Citizenship
Northern Mariana Card
INS US Citizen ID Card
**Permanent Resident Card
**Temporary Resident Identification Card
Canadian Passport/Birth Certificate
Non-resident Alien Canadian Border Crossing Card
**SEE BELOW**Valid foreign passport with a valid Record of Arrival/Departure (form I-94)
Certification from California Department of Corrections or California Youth Authority
**Employment Authorization Card
**Permanent Resident Re-entry Permit
Refugee travel document
"Processed for I-551" stamped in a valid foreign passport
Valid I-94 stamped "Refugee," "Parole or Parolee," "Asylee," or Section 207, Section 208, Section 209, Section 212d(2), HP or PIP
Immigration judge’s order granting asylum
Certified court order or judgment issued from a court of competent jurisdiction.
Valid I-94 with attached photo stamped "Processed for I-551 temporary evidence of lawful admission for permanent residence"
Notice of Action (I-797 Approved Petition)
Mexican Border Crossing Card with valid I-94
here is the second part, the tricky part we just discovered-- when you come on a K-1 visa, get your SSN asap. If you can get it in less than 30 days, AND get to DMV and pass the written test, you can get a driver's license. (Again, this is in CA only). The rule is, you have to have more than 60 days of legal presence left on your documents or they won't give you a DL. See:
"Limited Term Legal Presence
All original and pending driver license or identification cards will expire on the expiration date of his/her birth date/legal presence document (BD/LP) issued by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
Your BD/LP document must have an expiration date 30 or more days from your application date. If your BD/LP document has an expiration date less than 30 days, you will not be able to start a driver license or identification card application.
If your BD/LP document has an expiration date of less than 60 days, you may complete your licensing requirements (written/vision/driving tests), but you will need to submit another BD/LP document with an expiration date of 60 days or more before your driver license or identification card is mailed to you.
Before your limited term driver license expires, the department will mail out an “extension” letter with instructions on how to complete your application for a driver license.
If your current name no longer matches the name on your birth date/legal presence document, see "True Full Name" and "How to Change Your Name" for more information."
I hope this is helpful and that someone else gets to have a DL after reading this!

Dan,
Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but you will not get your visa if you are not there. Re-evaluate your schedule and go to Plan B. This forum is not about just one or two people, oddball cases, who got the shaft, it's a lot more than that. It's a track record. Sorry to sound harsh, I certainly don't mean to be, but if at this time you don't plan on showing up-- well, why drag yourself and your fiance through all that? You will not get the visa, period, and you will attract so much extra scrutiny to your case from that point on.
I just re-read the part you wrote about the timing. Look, if you time it so you dont show up you get nothing, no wedding in the US in June. So here is a thought. Dont worry about timing it. Whenever your fiance gets here, just get a courthouse marriage license and plan the real wedding for whenever. Dont worry about that 90 day window. Yes you have to marry within 90 days, no it doesnt have to be the big event. Just get the license so it's legal.
All the best, and keep us posted!

Don't worry about it... I have been arrested in 1998 for something once, also something minor, and they actually did file charges and I actually went to court, but I am still here (I went through the interview at the embassy, the AOS and all that without much hassle.. currently waiting for the removal of the conditions but not too worried about that now). I doubt it will be any problem for your removal of the conditions as nothing serious happened.
However, be sure to tell them about it, though. Where the question says 'have you ever been arrested.. etc etc', you should answer 'yes' as they can check this kind of information in their computers. I know someone (ok, his case was not for removal of conditions but for a citizenship) who got denied citizenship because he entered 'no' while they saw he did get arrested once, even though there were no charges filed and he never went to jail they still knew. They stated that he was denied because he lied, not because of the arrest (he is actually eligible to try again in 5 years).. if he actually said yes to the question, he would probably have had his citizenship without problem I'm just saying, make sure to be honest about it, and make sure to file copies of every piece of document as extra evidence, preferably with a short explanation of the situation (but don't go about a county who dislikes latinos because, like the person above me also said, they were following the law).