hplusj

7 hours ago, stegsaurus said:

Hi everyone, following our NOA2, I have been watching videos and reading guides online about what comes next. I wanted to make sure I have the correct/most efficient plan in mind for our situation.

 

We received our NOA2 on July 23, 2024 (the paper NOA2 says July 23, while the USCIS site says July 24). However, our USCIS timeline hasn't updated with a "We've sent your case to the NVC" step yet. I planned to request our case number from the NVC's Public Inquiry Form on Aug 6/7, as I've seen guides online say that two weeks after your NOA2, you can request your number here instead of waiting for the email/letter. Is this correct, or do I need to wait two weeks after the "we sent your case" step from USCIS?

 

Am I also correct that we cannot take any of the next steps until we have this number? Per the US Embassy Tegucigalpa page, it looks like you schedule the medical exam simply by contacting the doctor yourself, but I imagine you need the NVC case number for that. I know we also need the NVC case number to complete the DS-160, which is then required to book the embassy appointment.

 

My fiancée is in Honduras. We created an account with USTravelDocs, and the first available appointment is October 11, 2024 (it was October 7 a few days ago). Apparently the embassy in Tegucigalpa only opens a few appointment dates per month, so I'm feeling antsy about getting our NVC number in time to get an appointment for October. I want to make sure I'm doing anything I can now to save time later -- I've already filled out the I-134 as best I can for now.

 

Thanks for your consideration! I'm essentially looking to make sure I'm not misunderstanding anything about the next steps and that I'm being as efficient as I can.

Wonderful questions, and I have to say, the NVC stage can be one of the most opaque ones in our timeline.  Here's a few things I would advise:

You're going to have to wait on booking appointments until your case is sent to your embassy.  This includes your medical, since the visa validity date is from the date of the medical and is good for six months.  Most panel physicians for this reason will not entertain appointments before your case is sent to the embassy (oftentimes not before you have your visa appointment booked) to ensure your medical packet won't expire.  They are usually pretty costly appointments, trust me, you don't want to do it twice.

You are correct in noticing that the DS-160 can't be completed until you have your case number from NVC.  I'm not sure where you saw inquiries seeing case numbers returned in two weeks: at the time we requested back in March, it was around four weeks and my understanding it's about that, maybe a bit longer now.  Four weeks is probably the safe window of time.  Use the inquiry form and be patient, NVC can take a few business days to reply.  If the case number isn't ready, they'll let you know and you'll have to keep trying.  Weekly is usually a good frequency.

As to filling out the DS-160, embassies can sometimes request you wait but technically a completed one is good for twelve months.  Be sure to check your regional forum to see what the average time is for cases to be sent to Tegucigalpa from NVC, so you're not jumping the gun.

Above all else, try to be patient.  There's a lot of ways to track USCIS cases but NVC is a bit harder.  Upon getting your case number, be sure to run a CEAC immigrant visa check (yes, K1 is technically nonimmigrant but there's no invoice number so CEAC uses immigrant for us).  The cases are sent every other week to embassies that request a caseload so tracking those shipments for checking CEAC makes sense.  Once you see the status change to in transit, keep your eyes peeled for the packets that inform you it is time to book appointments.  Again, every embassy is different so check on Honduras' operations for that one.

Best of luck to you!  Deep breaths, trust the process, stay strong as a couple, and start organizing your documentation for your interview.  You got this!

Oh, and one last thing:  do not book any flights or make any concrete wedding plans yet.  You could still be thrown curveballs and see delays beyond what the average K1 wait times are for your embassy.  I know we were thrown some, the average time to Johannesburg from NVC is/was about 5 weeks.  We waited four months.

Just now, Crazy Cat said:

I'm not sure why they would have kept it for the medical exam.  You're in a tough spot.  Worst case scenario is that you wait, then have to get another one and send it in after the interview.  That will, of course, delay the visa. 

See update.

5 minutes ago, Crazy Cat said:

How fast can he get another police certificate? 

...do you think they threw it out?  I was going to have him call the doctor's office tomorrow just to check!  It would probably take a handful of weeks to get another, and set us back 10,000ZAR to do so.

UPDATE: it was seated in his scanner.  Crisis averted.

Hey all, quick question.

My fiance and I are working on assembly of docs for the interview on Thursday and he noticed his police clearance isn't with him.  He said he took it to the medical and is concerned that they might've thrown it away or "stolen" it, and I'm trying to provide some reassurance here.  What is the likelihood that it's just in the sealed packet?  

On 7/25/2024 at 10:55 AM, widude said:

 I think it has the ‘potential’ to move faster when beyond the NVC. Right now the choke point seems to be embassy interviews. Of course reports are the interview is rather short, once there. With that, you’d think they could schedule at least 3 an hour, same office.

I think it fluctuates, but is also very case dependent.  For us, NVC was skipping us over and it took several months to advance. 

The whole process is very opaque and I think the OP's suggestion to focus on preparations to keep busy is the best way to get through the long periods of uncertainty.  Additionally, focus on your future spouse, never forget about them and look at this whole process as a test of resolve and coalition.  We're a team and we've faced some serious stress, and will continue to do so.  Couples who navigate immigration can grow stronger for it.

For country of origin, as well as anything stateside later. 

Will help particularly with K1 to track any embassy delays in processing incoming medical packets and help to predict how far out to book visa appointments.

11 minutes ago, EatBulaga said:

@hplusj Ask the physician for a copy of the DS-3025, even if you have to pay extra for a copy. When we did the I-693 medical, we provided the copy to the US Civil Surgeon, which she used to determine what else is needed.

 

There is no rule that you have to have a copy of DS-3025, but it certainly doesn't hurt to have a copy included in the I-485 and in our case for the I-693 medical later on.

Thanks for the information guys.  I will have him inquire of the PP, and I also sent an email to Johannesburg just asking them to supply the PP with copies, since that seems to be where they originate.

You say "for the I-693 medical later on".  This is where I get stumped.  If his medical is completed in Cape Town, along with a DS-3025 which is marked completed, what other medical is needed stateside for the AOS?  Isn't the packet valid for a year so it can be used for the AOS?

6 minutes ago, Matildanana said:

I have completed all the process and the requirements of k-1 visa for my fiancee. I have completed the form DS-160 and I have paid for the visa fee but I can’t schedule for the appointment. I know I have to schedule the interview appointment myself but it says I have to receive email from the Ghana consulate before I can schedule the appointment. It’s been almost 1months and still have not received anything approved email from the consulate. I have emailed the consulate in Ghana for several times but no important reply for what I have asked. My question is 

1. how long it takes to get the approval email from the consulate before you can schedule the interview appointment for k-1 visa? 
2. can I schedule the interview appointment without the approval email? If yes, how can I do that? 
attached is what seen on my screen when I long on to my ustraveldocs.com

This is a great question for the regional forum.  Every embassy is different but most will not permit scheduling an interview until your case is received at the embassy in question and a letter sent out.

Perhaps in the meantime you can complete your VJ timeline so people know what stage you're at.

Hey all,

This is a very short notice question but I'm hoping to get an answer in the next few hours before my fiance heads to his medical review.

We're looking ahead at him being stateside and filing the AOS paperwork, and I'm getting confused about if the DS-3025 is actually required with the applications for 485/765/131 or not.  Reading over the pinned topic, I'm still at a loss.  Based on conversations I've had with other K1 applicants from South Africa, specifically the Cape Town panel physician appointments, no DS-3025 is being provided.  It just seems to be an office letterhead shortform record, notarized by the office with a stamp.  

I'm wondering what the purpose of this record is, if the DS-3025 according to the CDC website is meant to be his permanent vaccination record.  It's not official, or doesn't appear to be.  So what happens if he gets this document instead?  Will we have trouble filing the AOS, or receive an RFE?  The pinned topic from what I gather says the paperwork sent in the sealed packet from the POE includes the 693, which is preferable when filing because it's unlikely to be tampered with.

So, if that's the case, do we just let the packet ride and trust the 693 to cover all bases?  Or do we ask the office for a 3025/contact the consulate on Johannesburg to provide a copy to them?  Thanks in advance.

On 4/2/2024 at 9:55 AM, TonyMacaroni said:

 

They only gave me the 1st page after the exam and I didn't pay attention back then  I explained that in the cover letter I sent to USCIS.

The doc said that I only lacked the TD vaccine which he administered. So I probably have all of them. There are blanket waivers "Not available in-country" though, not sure if that'll satisfy USCIS. You can take a look at the form. It's different from what I've seen on this board, it doesn't have the "completed" section at all.

 

Can you provide an update? Was your DS 3025 satisfactory or trigger an RFE?

9 hours ago, DanielNJ said:

Yes. It’s not an IT issue. What I’m saying is that with today’s technology the time to process applications should be shorter. Thanks 

Say what you will about the process, particularly the costs and requirements, but the duration in my opinion is an important component in keeping immigration to the US discerning and subjective to the variety of cases.  I would not want to see it streamlined in a way that would expedite particularly the K1, even though my fiance and I are taking that route. 

Spouse visas and other family based visas, sure, but in terms of family-based immigration I personally think K1 should be the slowest.  Not only is it a test of resolve and unity between two people before facing the stress of marriage, but also gives extra time for relationships that won't stand to dissolve.  How many times does a person come to the US to marry, adjust status, then divorce? 

There's a process for a reason, and patience is a virtue.

4 hours ago, NorthByNorthwest said:

 

This is the correct answer. Australian citizens only need ESTA.

Plain and simple, that's what I needed.  Thank you!

Hi everyone:

My fiancé and I are trying to get information to my future mother-in-law, a former South African now living in Australia with a valid Australian passport, on how she can attend our wedding in Vegas this fall.  I keep trying to research what she needs in preparation for the trip, and am absolutely stumped. 

One source says she needs to apply for an interview for a B2 visa.

Another says she lives in a country covered by the VWP, so an ESTA needs to be completed.

And yet another source says she doesn't need to file anything at all, and just have her valid passport, enough money on-hand for the trip, proof of return flight and other confirmations such as her hotel stay.

I am concerned that if I don't understand what is needed in advance and give her the info she needs, that she's going to have issues at customs and not know what to say or do.  She's in her 70s and this will be her first time visiting the US.  How can I assist her in navigating this process?

3 hours ago, EricPerales1989 said:

I just finished my putting together my K1 Visa packet and I was wondering if I should sign and date every single document in the packet? Every photo page, every ticket/interary page? Every piece of evidence? What about written 3rd Party statements?    

 

Sorry if this was mentioned before.

Are you talking about your I-129F petition?  You'll want to sign/date any official forms, as well as your declarations of intent.  When you get to the embassy stage, updated declarations of intent should be included, which also should be signed/dated.

Everything outside of those pieces of evidence, there is no requirement date them, or really any benefit to it, unless it somehow helps you keep things in order.  Items such as I-94 travel records and tickets have the dates of validity on them already. 

Photos, it doesn't really matter if they're dated.  They're considered the weaker pieces of evidence because they would have to take your word for it that the dates are accurate, unless they include elements in the photo that align with travel plans: such as a trip to Paris together corroborated with a picture of you two in front of the Eiffel tower.  

On 3/13/2024 at 8:39 AM, alliejourney said:

Then if I'm reading this correctly, we'll also just need his I-94, show the visa stamp in his passport, and then they'll accept his foreign birth certificate and foreign passport for identification and proof of age - anyone, please feel free to correct me or let me know anything we may need in addition!

I would appreciate it if someone could verify that this is correct. The RM 10211.530 is very hard to decipher and one of the requirements on the VJ SSN guide is "another valid form of ID". 

Is the above method acceptable?

40 minutes ago, Cathi said:

If you have question just come here and ask away, there are many, many people in this forum that I would trust far more than any immigration attorney. 

HEAR HEAR.

You should not for one moment be convinced that immigration attorneys can do this better than you.  Trust the people who have been through this process before and are also personally invested in it.

You can do this.  For every visa there are checklist/flowcharts, not to mention people who have years of tracking your visa journey AND those who have up to date information based on their own experiences.

Ditch the lawyer.  We can help you.

3 hours ago, Yayangekajn said:

Hai, what happened after you recieved the birth certificate? My fiance also received this mail, only contain 3 pages (his birth certificate, front page of 1-129f form, page stating they returning the original copy). It does not stated anything about approved, denied or RFE. Is it normal or should I worry about it? Did your case got approved? 

Yeah it's normal.  If the USCIS agent feels like it, they will ship back originals once they have the copy they need for the case.  Sometimes they will scrap it but in most states, people don't sweat this.  I sent an "original" because it had the official watermarks.  If they trashed it, no skin off my back.

We had more issues with mysterious delays at NVC level.  But we've seen the case move to the embassy this week, and have an interview scheduled.  Other than the slight panic attack from receiving the bc back after a few weeks, USCIS was a well oiled machine.

3 hours ago, tinubiyi said:

I am in the same boat, waiting for an Invoice number to check status.

An invoice number is not needed to check status.  CEAC utilizes the immigrant visa check instead of nonimmigrant for K1s.  Just need your NVC case number.

This is going to be highly dependent on what airline you guys use, above all else.  As far as bringing a cat to the US, it's a lot easier than a dog.  Rabies and health certificates are not required for entry of a cat into the US but they MAY be necessary based on the airline you fly with.

If I were you I'd make a call to the airline customer service of your choice and verify what their requirements are.  Could be a combination of health/vaccination records, pictures/ID of the cat, and verification of the crate dimension if your fiance plans to bring them on as a personal item for storage beneath the seat.

There are also organizations such as PetRelocation and IPATA which can assist in shipping the cat separately.  Good luck!

13 minutes ago, nautilus808 said:

Great news! Our case also got sent to the embassy last tuesday or wednesday. Unfortunately I can not find it with the DHL hack

It is likely at the embassy already.  Unfortunately I do not see your timeline or which embassy you are with.

If your status has changed from In Transit to Ready on the CEAC status check, it's arrived.

7 hours ago, hopiiee said:

Thank you so much everyone 😊 Yes I have only showed proof of us meeting together with the date and brief explanation of the pictures on each pages. I'll submit engagement receipt, his flight itinerary, boarding pass and airbnb and hotel receipt when he went here.

I94 is a government issued travel record and very easy to look up.  

You got this!  You seemed to start with concerns about meeting family.  Ultimately the K1 is provided for bona fide relationships between two people who want to get married.  Although it's nice, meeting family is not a requirement.

22 hours ago, vistawateraz said:

It's been a long time, but we finally received our Removal of Conditions approval on 6/19! the interview was waived and the Green card arrived 6/26. Will submit N400 in August! If anyone is still watching this thread, hope everything is moving quickly for you. 

 

Regards,

Dan & Adriana

Congratulations!  We're certainly keeping an eye on any activity from our fellow Saffers.  My fiance's K1 was finally sent to the embassy on Tuesday so we are anxiously awaiting the interview letter so we can work on getting things scheduled.  Will have to poke you when AOS/removal of conditions become our next steps.

Best! 

Heather & Jon

This was answered in another thread; the specifics to how your case will progress and when/how payments are made is heavily based on which embassy your fiance(e) will be using.  Please complete your timeline.

8 hours ago, stephanyv said:

We are currently at this stage, what happens next? Did they give you your appointment date or did you have to schedule it?

Entirely depends on your embassy, how they handle it. 

Take a moment to fill out your timeline, and maybe someone who used the same embassy can assist you with that.