Reallyfrustrated

friends..any approval from vermont for cr1/cr2....waiting waiting waitng...

no NOA2 yet for me...filed on feb15..noa1 recvd..that's alll

My wife's I-130 was filed at the Vermont Processing Center on October 31, 2007. It took forever until her interview at the American Embassy in Belgrade, Serbia was finally scheduled on September 30, 2008. All I can tell you is to be patient. It's very difficult, I know. Hang in there!

My wife lives in a village of India and the internet is extremely slow so we never use the method of communicating online. However, we do try to talk 2 times a day everyday. Do I need to worry about the emails as evidence? I have proof that I went to see my wife again during the summer and we went to Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand for her birthday.

I spent hours organizing proof of my trips to visit my wife and all of the time we spend communicating. I had copies of telephone bills, hotel invoices, airline boarding passes, chat sessions, you name it. I am convinced from reading posts on this site that much of the proof required depends upon the country the interview is held at. My wife's interview was at the American Embassy in Belgrade, Serbia. I flew to Serbia from the US to be with her during her interview. The only piece of evidence the American Consular asked to look at was a photo albumn we put together of all our time together. My wife did receive her visa. My recommendation is have all of the evidence you can assemble. A photo albumn in cronological order with family, friends, children, spouse, whatever you can put into the albumn. Keep in mind a picture is worth a thousand words. Good luck to you!

This is a follow-up question with regards to my old post. If I would be asked what those deleted words/marked words are (hubby and wifey), would it be fine if I tell the consul they are confidential? Would it not be rude to give this answer?

Thanks for responding.

Unless the other evidence you have of a bonafide relationship is lacking. The COs probably won't even read the emails and chats.

We took a pile of documentation at least 5 inches thick - chat sessions, emails, phone bills, airfare receipts, hotel invoices, you name it. The only thing the consular looked at was the photo album we put together. This was the American Embassy in Belgrade, Serbia, so other embassies are different for sure. I STRONGLY suggest a photo album with the pictures in cronological order. We even had captions on some of the pictures. We had pictures of the two of us together, pictures with my wife and her two children, shots of the two of us with cousins, etc.

I think most everyone would agree that you should wait until after your interview to make your flight reservations. I am sure your wife's interview will go just fine, BUT, you never know. I have heard of situations where a couple has purchased airline tickets for flights after the interview and something went wrong so the flights had to be cancelled or re-scheduled. That can be VERY expensive. Just be careful. During my wife's interview we asked the consular if she could buy her airline tickets and he said yes. There were two issues we needed to correct in our paperwork, so she was not given her visa on the day of the interview. Again, just be careful.

Steve -

Your situation has absolutely blown me away. I can't for a minute fathom how you must deal from day to day. And it is not my purpose to dig at your wound, but to spend the year waiting and waiting for the visa petition to reach the embassy interview day and to then have everything crumble around you. OMG!!!! God Bless you my man! You are so much stronger than any one I have encountered her on VJ. As the saying goes, everything happens for a reason. I know it sounds trite, but somehow you will gain from this.

Our circumstances were a little different, but my wife applied for a tourist visa at the American Embassy in Belgrade, Serbia in November of 2006 and was denied. We filed her I-130 in October of 2007, her interview for her CR-1 visa was September 30, 2008 and she received her visa on October 4th, 2008. In our case the denial of the tourist visa did not influence her CR-1 visa. The denial was also almost 2 years ago. Hope this helps! Good luck to you!

Congrats and yes you are right, take more than you think they will ask for, cause you just dont know what will come up. No questions per se and your great, more questions you have the back up and do not have to worry about it 0-

God Bless and God Speed, what a journey we have taken, and I know that you will not forget this lesson ever.

Thank you SusieK - our timelines are very similar. Best to you and your loved one!

Congragulations to you and your wife!!!!

I have a question did you send in bank statements?

Thank you for the congrats! I did not provide bank statements, I provided 3 years of W-2s and US Federal Tax Returns. We also took a ton of documentation to the interview, phone bills, chat sessions, hotel receipts, copies of airplane tickets, anything and everything you can think of including a photo book of all of our time together in my 12 trips to see her since October of 2006. The photo book was the only item the Consular at the Embassy looked at. BUT, I would still recommend to everyone that you have as much documentation supporting your relationship as you can manage.

I would first like to apologize for not having a timeline posted and there is no way I can go back in time and re-create it. I can tell everyone that my wife's I-130 was received at the Vermont Processing Center on October 31, 2007. Her interview at the American Embassy in Belgrade, Serbia was September 30th, 2008 and THANK GOD I was there with her because there was an issue with the AOS. The Vice Consular was very kind and considerate and he had me fill out a blank AOS to correct the one little error. If I had not been with my wife during her interview, there would have been a huge delay in receiving her visa. In addition to the small error on the AOS, my wife's Serbian passport expires in seven months. The Embassy in Serbia requires the passport to be valid at least 8 months beyond the issue date of the visa. SO, my wife had to get her Serbian passport renewed. I posted this issue last week. She went back to the American Embassy today and was issued her visa! PRAISE THE LORD!

For those of you that are still waiting for an event to happen with your petition, I feel your pain. This process has been one of the most painful processes I have been though in my life. For those of you like me that have made it to the end, you know how GREAT the feeling is when your loved one finally has his or her visa. I wish all of you the best and God Speed your petitions through to the end.

My wife had her interview at the American Embassy in Belgrade, Serbia on Tuesday, October 1. I was with her for support and to ensure everything went as planned. Her Serbian passport expires 7 months from now. The Embassy in Serbia, and probably all embassies require the passport to be valid for at least 8 months beyond the issuance of the visa. The Vice Councelor at the Embassy told us that all she needs to do is bring in a renewed passport and her visa will be issued. She will have her renewed passport next week. The 8 month requirement was news to us. Hope this helps someone avoid a minor delay!

Hey folks! I leave Maryland this evening to fly to Belgrade, Serbia to be with my wife for her interview at the American Embassy in Belgrade, Serbia. It was 11 months ago when we first submitted her visa petition to the Vermont processing center. Needless to say we are both very excited now. Best of luck to all of you!

Yoke,

Have some patience.. you will get the appointment letter soon... Don't worry.. Ok..

It took one month for my wife to receive her appointment letter and she lives in Serbia. I received mine about 15 days after the NVC said it was mailed, I live in the US. Patience is a virtue and ALL of us on this site should receive metals of honor for being as patient as we must be.

Anyone have any idea how long it takes to receive your green card after approval of the CR-1 interview at the American Embassy?

When I was preaperin for my Interviev in Belgrade my Birth Certiphicate was expired (more then 6 monts). I called them and they told me it is fine and I don't need another one.

It was original with Apostile on the back.

After that Embassy in Belgrade was temporary closed and I had my Interviev in Zagreb, Croatia and ewerthing was fine.

I think the worst that can hapen is to ask you to bring another BC after the Interviev but they will approved your Visa aneway!

Good luck!

The original of my wife's birth certificate was submitted and our marriage certificate and her police report were submitted to the USCIS and then forwarded to the NVC. And the Packet 4 we received from the NVC confirms that the Embassy has all of the originals, so I PRAY we are ok.

Thank you for your post and best of luck to you!

Like you, the Packet 4 we received from the NVC confirms that the originals were received so I'm hopeful we are ok. Only 26 days until her interview! It will be an intense 26 days!

My POE was 24 August 2008 (Sunday) and as the immigration officer was reviewing my documents he noticed that I had ticked the box to have a SSN automatically assigned to me. He explained that it could take up to 4-6 weeks and if I wanted one sooner I could just go down to the social security office and apply for one there.

On my third day in the country (Tuesday) I went down to the local social security office and explained my situation to the lady there. She said that I had to be in the country for at least 10 days before I submitted an application just so that my information could make it into the system.

I waited a week then went back to the office yesterday (Tuesday). I passed my application and passport through to a different lady to one I spoke to the first time. She looked at the stamp on my passport and said they usually have to wait 2 weeks before they can process a new application in order to avoid assigning multiple numbers. But she looked up my name on the system anyway and said good news, my information has already made it into the system and I was assigned a number the previous Friday (29 August 2008). She gave me a print out of my number and explained that I should give it another week for my card to arrive.

So all in all it took them 5 days to assign my number which is pretty quick I think. No sign yet of my Welcome letter but I'm sure that's on it's way too

Your timeline is remarkably fast! It has almost been a full year from the time my wife and I submitted her visa application and her interview at the American Embassy in Belgrade, Serbia is the end of this month. Luck of the draw as I see it. Some people get through this process very quickly and others wait for what seems like a lifetime. Glad you made it so quickly and good luck!

My S.O. went to his interview at the Kingston Embassy today. He said that he was asked some questions regarding our relationship, such as where we met and when we met? How often do we talk to each other? has he met any of my family? He said that in the end they requested that I come to the Embassy to be interviewed also, and to come with:

more photo's of the two of us together (only had 4 together)

bank statements and tax returns (which I provided him with bank statements, three years worth of tax returns, w2's, check stubs, a letter from my employer and a letter from me explaining that I started a new job in November 2007 and now earn more income than years past. So maybe he wasn't sure what to show them, he wasn't clear on this. )

They also wanted some more phone records. (Last ones I gave him were from a month ago.)

He said that he would fax me his blue slip so I can understand what they want me to bring. I'm to let the Embassy know when I can come to Jamaica via e-mail and they will schedule us for a 2nd interview during that time. So, I'm trying to see when I can get the time off since I just left Jamaica on 8/23/08 and come up with more money to travel again. So, no approval, but hopefully soon.

To be so close and yet so far! I feel your pain but you will make it through this ordeal. There is NO stated requirement for the fiancee or the spouse to be present during the visa interview and many people are approved without the spouse or fiancee being present. I recommend to everyone out there, if you have the means to be present to support your loved one during one of the most important and stressful periods of his or her life, BE THERE together to give each other support.

When I was preaperin for my Interviev in Belgrade my Birth Certiphicate was expired (more then 6 monts). I called them and they told me it is fine and I don't need another one.

It was original with Apostile on the back.

After that Embassy in Belgrade was temporary closed and I had my Interviev in Zagreb, Croatia and ewerthing was fine.

I think the worst that can hapen is to ask you to bring another BC after the Interviev but they will approved your Visa aneway!

Good luck!

The original of my wife's birth certificate was submitted and our marriage certificate and her police report were submitted to the USCIS and then forwarded to the NVC. And the Packet 4 we received from the NVC confirms that the Embassy has all of the originals, so I PRAY we are ok.

Thank you for your post and best of luck to you!

Has anyone who has an interview scheduled or who has already had their interview at the embassy been required to provide an Apostile version of their marriage certificate? We've been through USCIS and the NVC and the original of our marriage certificate has passed the test. Any insight into this issue is greatly appreciated.

yes, they are all telling you the truth all this ####### and you can even be denied by someone having a crapy night of sleep

It seems that these organizations get their employees from the same pool of individuals that the DMV (Department of Motor Vehicles) draws from. I'm sure there are exceptions to this, but overall I am very displeased with the process and the individuals I have interacted with. The worst part about the situation is that these clowns hold your fate in their hands and you have to smile at them while they determine your fate.

I wish you well in this adventure. I have read stories of denial at the Embassy and the need for second and third interviews. I just do not understand how this can be. I know there is no legal requirement for the spouse to be present for the interview but for me, I have a moral responsibility to be with my spouse at the Embassy.

--- hi everyone.. i have a quick quesiton i hope that someone may beable to help me. We have filed my visa in Vermont. Once vermont approves this visa i know that it well go to anther center where my wife well send more papers like affidaviat of support. Now my questions is, once my visa is approved in Vermont can it be denied because of not enough funds like in the affidavat of support papers. i know that she makes enough but this is just a incase question. Thanks for everyones help.

After the USCIS approval the file goes to the NVC (National Visa Center) for a background check. Generally files aren't at the NVC for long, maybe a week or two, and after that it moves on to the embassy. To answer your question yes the case can be denied at any point in the process... at USCIS, NVC, during the medical (e.g. communicable disease) or at the interview. There are many reasons why a case would be denied and lack of verifiable finances to support your fiancee could be one of them.

I hate to sound pessimistic but its a long, difficult process and a small, seemingly insignificant misstep can set you back for months (I tell you that from first hand experience). I wish you luck and my thoughts to you is to research the process very thoroughly and learn as much as you can.

nowhereman is absolutely right. There are numerous reasons why a visa application can be denied. Making it through USCIS and the NVC does not guarantee that the Embassy will approve the visa. Just pray that the individual who conducts the interview at the Embassy had a good night sleep and woke up on the right side of the bed on the day of your interview. It amazes me that all of us go through an unbelievable amount of time, money, and mental anguish, we finally are touched by USCIS, move on to the NVC, and yet an Embassy can deny a visa! How can that be? I wish you well!!! Just make sure that you dot all of your i's and cross all of your t's.

it really depends on how proactive you are in submitting things to NVC and then how far away your consulate schedules the interview.

I got my I-130 approval a week ago, given what Ive hread about London cases I hope to be in the US by February 2009 (i.e. approx another 6 months)

The NVC seems to process cases in several weeks. Our case was at the NVC for a little more than 2 weeks and we were approved. My suggestion to you is call them and talk to a representative. The couple of times I called I was very pleasantly surprised at how helpful the reps were. GOOD LUCK!

Hi guys,

Got my interview on Thursday and have been furiously getting a folder together with everything in it I need to take with me and other things I probably don't but would feel better having. Can you kind people who have been through the experience tell me if I've missed anything out........ Thanks.

P.S. Never been married, never been a bad boy and never, as far as I'm aware, died!!!

1. Train Tickets

2. Interview Letter

3. NOA2 Hard Copy

4. Passport

5. Birth Certificate and Copy

6. Notarised Letter of Intent from Megan

7. Police Certificate and Copy

8. Notarised I-134, 3 years tax returns, 4 pay slips and Letter of Employment for Megan along with a copy of the Biographic page in her Passport.

9. Notarised I-134, 3 years tax returns, 4 pay slips and Letter of Employment for her Step Father as our Co-Sponsor along with a copy of his Birth Certificate and Live Birth Certificate.

10. All the paperwork from my Medical in case they want to see it.

11. A copy of all the forms I sent them in Packet 3. " x DS-156, DS-156k, DS-157 and DS230 Part 1.

12. An exact copy of the full I-129F petition we mailed in on April 5th.

13. New pictures of us together, along with Boarding passes and emails.

14. 2 Colour US Passport Photographs.

15. $131 in cash for Visa Fee.

16. £14 in English money for the Visa Delivery Fee.

I hope that is everything, I am absolutely bricking it already!!!

Thank you for your help guys.

I don't get it. If "originals" of the documents listed above were submitted to USCIS and/or the NVC, why would you need to provide them to the Embassy, because the Embassy should have the documents!! The interview letter, passport, medical records, 2 passport pics, and cash to pay for visa fee and delivery fee I understand. Of course documents that prove the relationship such as boarding passes, pictures, telephone bills, etc. Our interview is September 30th at the American Embassy in Belgrade, Serbia. I am flying there from the US to be there with my wife and I need to make sure we have all of the documents we need. But this thread just raised my blood pressure! LOL!!

I have an appointment on the 5th of September for the K3, i was wondering if anyone may think it possible that the London embassy would pull my completed case from the NVC. I have noticed from some timelines that once the case has been forwarded from the NVC to an embassy that it only takes 2-3 days.

I'm not sure what to do if it wont be possible to pull the case. and if not i dont want to cancel the K3 appointment, but also i really cannot afford to attend an interview for the K3 and also the CR-1.

I have already postponed the interview once with no questions asked and they seemed quite happy to do this, maybe i can postpone it again. I'm not sure

Any advice is much appreciated.

Oh one more question, does anyone know if the US embassy in London support American holidays, such as Labor weekend, and will be closed on Monday?

ROCA

The US Embassy in London is closed on American holidays as all US Embassies around the world. You can always check their website. This link provides you will all of the holidays for the US Embassy in the UK: http://www.usembassy.org.uk/ukpubhol.html

Good luck!

I'd love to hear from anyone who has interviewed at the American Embassy in Belgrade. My wife's interview is scheduled for 30 Sept. Anything anyone can share about experiences in Serbia would be great!

Has anyone out there had their interview at the American Embassy in Belgrade recently? If so, how long was it? Was the consulate reasonable? Please share your experience. Our interview is scheduled for 30September and I will fly to Belgrade to be with my wife for the interview. We have all of our documentation, plane tickets, hotel invoices, phone bills, chat sessions, photo albums, the works!