alb2009

Just a heads up for this crowd-- things have moved very quickly for us since receiving NOA2!

Our interview date is scheduled for June 23rd.

Congrats to all those who have already had theirs approved!

Cheers,

Annie

I just got my email notification yesterday ("Packet 4")-- and Andrew's interview date is scheduled for June 23rd!!

For those interested, in took us a total of 9 working days for the US Consulate to process our Packet 3 and send us notification of our interview date (we received notification on June 3rd). The total time beteween sending in Packet 3 and having the interview for us is one month. Pretty impressive turn around time!

Hope everyone else is moving along quickly in the process!

My Fiance submitted his Packet 3 to the US Consulate in Sydney 1 1/2 weeks ago. I'm just curious how long it will take until the actual date the interview is scheduled. Anyone who has recently gone through this process lately? Wait is the duration b/w sending in Packet 3 and having interview?? VJ says 68 days.... but I think that is longer than average.

Trying to tie the knot on Aug 14th!!!

ps-- Hi Jodi... glad to see that you're right behind us in the process and found this forum too

Whats happening at the CSC? Only two approvals last week!! Still waiting........

Hang in there Jodi-- it's not even mid-week yet. We're all crossing our fingers that your is approved this week!!

The good thing is once it's approved, everything moves much more quickly. Our was approved April 22, and yesterday (5/4) we got our packet 3 from the US Consulate in Sydney. We are most of the way through all of the forms. Andrew applied for the Police check 2 weeks ago, already had his medical.... we did it in advance, and now we'll provide the doc our case number. So I am sending him all of my stuff today -- 4 folders worth of stuff. He'll add all of his stuff and we'll send it off by sometime next week. His doctor, who does these medical exams for visas all the time, said that there is no wait for an interview date and we should hear back from them in less than 2 wks after we send in Packet 3. So..... basically, once you get approved, it's pretty much smooth sailing!

We're now fully planning on the Aug 14th wedding date! Hope everything continues to move along so quickly!!

Cheers,

Annie

Welcome to the thread! I notice that you're in Seattle too

Packet 3 for the K-1 visa should simply be in the form of an email with a link to this page: http://canberra.usembassy.gov/consular/visas/iv/fiance.html

Hi Kaffy-- thanks for the quick reply. I think you're the first Aussie couple that I've seen on here from Seattle too. Bet you're hating this crummy weather after yesterday!

The link you provided-- that's actually the site that we've been using to download forms, and look up doctors, etc..

Just to familiarize myself with the process further, do you know how long it takes to hear back from the Embassy after you send off Packet 3? And what does Packet 4 contain?

Thanks,

Annie

I just got word two weeks ago that we got NOA2. I'm still waiting to hear back from DOT NVC to see when they'll send our package to the US Embassy in Sydney (and to get our case number). In the meantime, my fiance had his medical exam in Hobart, and has already sent away for him Police records. Does anyone know what exactly is in "Packet 3"?? We've already started filling out what we expect will be the required documentation (I-134, DS-230, DS-156 & DS-156K). The idea was that we'd be able to send our package back to the Embassy immediately and then schedule the interview. Any recommendations from people who've already been through the process? Also, how far out is it to schedule an interview once you hear back from the Embassy??

Any ideas or info is greatly welcomed.

Cheers,

Annie

I am not sure how your embassy works. I would think that it would be a bit risky to have the medical not be associated with the correct file number from NVC. Otherwise, the embassy might get the results before they even have a clue that this is coming, and then what are they supposed to do with them??

Call NVC and see if you can't get a DOS case number for him to provide tomorrow (That's only in a couple hours, isn't it?)

I just called the DOS and we don't have a case number yet. Does the doctor send them directly to the embassy? I thought the fiance got submitted the medical exam with his/her package.

Okay.... more questions-- what is in packet 3? and packet 4? My fiance has an appointment to have his medical tomorrow. Can he do this without the DOS (NVC) case number? Does it make a difference?

when do you send in packet 3, and packet 4?

Question for those further along in the process--- at what point did you mail all of the documentation to your fiance to submit to his/her consulate?? and also, how do you contact NVC to find out your case number? -- apparently we need that to schedule a medical exam.

minnew & nik+heather.... thanks for all of the advice & new resources. I think our case will be fairly straight forward. No children, no overseas issues, etc.

Look here:

http://www.visajourney.com/timeline/stats.php

It took 2.5 weeks for us to get from NOA2 to consulate received.

The average days (for Australia) to set an interview date once the consulate receives your packet is 55 days. It's highly dependent on how fast you are returning packet 3 (+ checklist).

Start getting ready now - it seems like a lot of places the police certificate is good for 6-12 months, birth certificates have no expiration date -- start filling out forms. All you can do is be ready to pass the ball straight back when it's in your court again! Check out your embassy info page (This may be slightly outdated - I found for London it was updated a year ago, MOSTLY correct)

http://www.visajourney.com/consulates/inde...&cty=Sydney

I think August may be cutting it a little close (on AVERAGE, ~3 months to get your visa from this point), but not outside the realm of possibility. Assess your red-flag factors - beneficiary has children from previous marriage, lived in different countries for several years, US visa over stays, Not born in Australia - All these things can throw you into additional processing.

Check out others' experiences at the interview here (Select Australia as consulate):

http://www.visajourney.com/reviews/index.php

I'm so ecstatic. Okay, but now what? I haven't gotten the letter visa post yet (was sent yesterday). So, what are the next steps? Do I need to send anything back prior to it getting sent to NVC? or do I send something to NVC before it is sent to the US Embassy in Sydney? Or do I just send everything all to my fiance? Sorry-- I'm just trying to figure out what I need to do so I can make sure that we can keep moving quickly with this.

BTW-- what do you guys think for an Aug 14th wedding if I just got NOA2? Is that too close? I noticed that everyone elses steps are moving along very quickly.

I'm so nervous and excited!

Annie

We just got our notice of approval via email!!!!!!!

FINALLY! I've been checking this thread every day waiting for your approval to come in! I was starting to get worried that you were going to get left behind.

Seems like CSC has been focusing on the older cases recently. See a lot of long term dates going by, and not many (any?) from March.

We just got our notice of approval via email!!!!!!!

Nik got packet 3 in the mail today.

It's dated April 9th, post marked April 9th.

I am NOT sure when it arrived, he has been away since Friday in Wales. I would think that probably today.

What is packet 3?? I'm making sure that we've got everything organized in advance... other than the I-134 & documentation, continued letter of intent, and pictures/evidence of an on-going relationship, is there anything else that I should haved filled out already? Aren't we supposed to wait on the police report and medical until everything is at the US embassy in the other country???

Question for those who are further along in the process..... how long has it taken to get your stuff sent to he NVC, and then to the US Embassy of the fiance's country? Did the fiance already do the medical exam in advance? Has anyone scheduled the interview yet?

I was really hoping for an August wedding (that's when the soon-to-be-in-laws will already be visiting).... although I think we're running out of time to count on my Fiance being present at the wedding (no groom = no wedding)--- there's just too much uncertainty about the rest of the processes. Any suggestions?

i recieved the nao2 in the mail today

im so excited, and i just can't hide it....

a bit closer now

Yay!! Congratulations!

For those people who just received NOA2 in the mail late last week.... was your status updated on the USCIS website in advance, or did you receive an email?

BTW-- congratulations!!

I have visa approval envy!

Has anyone else been approved lately? or heard ANYTHING at all???

regarding the tax transcripts, what form does that supplement? I'm still having a hard time pulling together all of the information that is required for the interview in advance.

The tax transcripts are for the I-134, the affidavit of support.

I just checked on the I-134 instructions, and I don't see where it requires 3 years? And this only applies to people who are self employed, right? Help-- I'm lost (again).

My fiance called for his IRS tax transcripts and they said that 2008 would not be available until AUGUST!! So we are getting 05, 06, 07 and made a copy of the 08 return and W-2. He was told 10-15 business days, but I heard some people say as little as 6 days after ordering. He also called his bank (USAA) about the bank letter, first he told me that it would take 3 months to get, because he has had to have one in the past for work, but more detailed. (My heart dropped) So he called today and was told 6-8 weeks!! Maybe thats just to cover their butts! LOL I hope not! Do you think we could get by in the interview with out the bank letter? Vancouver usually schedules 4-6 weeks in advance depending on if you have a preferred day of the week, maybe i could hold off sending in Pkt 3? I just really want this interview done and over with already!!! We will have tax information, letter of intent, letter from his employer, and recent pay stubs.

regarding the tax transcripts, what form does that supplement? I'm still having a hard time pulling together all of the information that is required for the interview in advance.

Anyone heard anything yet today?? Going home to check the mail!

Thanks everyone for the reassurance. I'm headed out today and this weekend to check out wedding venues, and not being able to nail down a date is beyond frustrating.... also not having a fiance to do this planning with..... even more frustrating!

Anyways, guess I'll just try to be patient.

Random-- is anyone from Seattle on here?

alright-- I'm getting antsy and people who sent theirs in after me are getting approved. What's the process for contacting USCIS to inquire about my application? totally bummed that it's nearly the end of the week and I haven't heard a thing!!!!!!!

Speaking of NVC....does it matter if the petitioner or beneficiary calls NVC for information on the case? I know that USCIS it must be the petitioner, but was just wondering. I am trying to hold off asking my fiance (USC) to call NVC, I am just too impatient! Well back to packing for the flight to Omaha tomorrow!!

Quick question-- did you find out first on the USCIS website? or in the mail? EVERYONE IS GETTING THEIR NOA2!!! I'm getting so antsy-- especially when I see people that submitted theirs after I did get approval.

I haven't had any touches yet, but I'm curious-- is mail notification the first that applicants learn they have been approved? Is there any other way of knowing? I have been checking USCIS using my file reference number and have it set to send email updates, but I'm not certain that's up to speed. Any suggestions?? I'm soooo excited!

I bought my dress awhile ago already lol. Getting ready to have it fitted...its going to need major alterations. I got mine at House of Brides, but thats only in the Chicago area. A very nice store! Personally I was not impressed with David's Bridal, but I did end up getting the bridesmaid dresses from there.

Oh dear, I have to admit, I may have purchased a gown last week. It was too beautiful to pass up, and by my favorite designer. It's not even a wedding dress-- just a goregeous gown.

On a more serious note, has anyone else had their file "touched" since 1-23?? Is this normal to not have it reviewed since then??

I was just taking a peek at the difference b/w the USCIS website and they estimated amount of time for the Visa to process, and it states 6 months. On Igor's list, my wait time is 4 1/2 months. How can this site be more accurate if it's a smaller sample size?

I-129F Sent : 2009-01-14

I-129F NOA1 : 2009-01-23

Igor's list:

Processing

Estimates/Stats : Based on timeline data, your I129f may be adjudicated between April 27, 2009 and May 2, 2009*.

USCIS:

https://egov.uscis.gov/cris/processTimesDis...e=serviceCenter