Bob and Vladia

No she will need GC, approval means nothing till you have it in hand really.

How?

My wife received her NOA about her green card approval last October. The NOA said to expect her card in 30 days. We waited 60 days and did not yet receive it. I called USCIS and asked them about it and after a couple of months received a letter informing me that we had to file an I90. I downloaded it and sent it in and we have received another NOA that they recieved the I90 and are prcessing it. Can my wife travel on just the NOA that said she was approved if we do not receive the actual card in time?

When we file aour AOS, we file for the EAD and Advanced Parole. The Advanced Parole is only if the fiance plans on traveling before the AOS is processed? If she does not plan to travel, then we can leave that out? I think, in order to fill it out, you have to put a travel date in it.

Also, what is the A number?

couldn't she get an ITIN then get the SSN later? This way you can file "joint".

I looked at that and it still takes 4 to 6 weeks. I'm not sure if it will negatively affect her SS application afterwards. I'm not sure I'm willing to take that chance just to get my refund 2 months earlier. We are still on track for the AOS anyway.

This is one reason the K-1 Flowchart shows SS# as Step 16 (step 15 being 'enter the US').

True dat, but the problem is that you have to wait at least 3 weeks an then it was 1 week from my wedding and I decided to wait until after to file with the married name and then I was in the finals for my Master's degree and then it was Christmas holidays. No excuse but I lost track of the time. Just letting others know not to fall into the same trap. It's not the end of the world but does cause some personal delays. As long as our AOS is on time, we'll be okay.

Hello friend

yes,it is true, my wife she was recieved SS# last two weeks ,you must apply before 20days ,your I 94 expired the officer ss told me that

so you have to wait when EADS come to you and then you refile ss again

John

Yes, I was told that by USCIS. It just means that I have to wait 3 more months for my refund, not a really big deal. I just wanted to let others know this so they won't get caught up.

Procrastination is never a good idea, Most people know this.

I actually forgot over Christmas holidays. I was too much in bliss with my new wife. I am usually not the procrastinator.

Just wanted to inform VJ users that Social Security will not issue a Social Security number if you wait till within 14 days of expiration of the visa, even if you are already married. I found this out the hard way and they said that we need to update the I-94. The only way to do this is to wait for the EAD (work permit) to come in and that will be around another 90 days. I cannot file a joint income tax return until we get my wife a SS#. I will have to wait for my refund. While it is true that you should wait about 3 weeks for the entry record to be filed, make sure you apply for the SS# with more than 2 weeks left on the visa.

Just curious. I saw some posts from members here stating no one has touched or updated their cases 4-5 months after they receive their NOA1's. No RFE's nothing.

That must be really stressful. Id rather have RFE's than nothing. At least you know your case is making progress.

I filed in march and it took 4 months three days to adjudicate. There is a post on VJ somewhere from a former USCIS adjudicator expalining the process. Your case in token in on a certain date and you are issued the NOA1. The case then gets sent to one of many adjudicators in a huge wharehouse of adjudicators. When this happens you get your first touch. It then sits in the adjudicator's pile until your case becomes the next one in line. When you get a touch after 4 months, it likely is your case finally coming up for review. According to the former adjudicator, it takes the average case about 15 minutes to adjudicate. There are that many cases in line ahead of you! If your touch is before 4 months it likely is just a movement to another desk or something unless you are extrememly lucky and got an adjudicator with a lighter load or a bunch of uncomplicated cases. If you check the timelines of other cases, you will see that the vast majority of us waited at least 4 1/2 months. Be patient. It will happen. The USCIS probably gave you a 6 month window. If after 6 months you have not been touched, I would then call USCIS. I have always had friendly and cooperative agents help me whan I called. Good luck! It's worth it. I know.

Thank you for the responses. Unfortunately Mexico has a new policy for people who are transiting through if they stop in more than one airport within Mexico, they must have a visa. As for the US visa, we will just provide all the evidence of ties to Brasil that we can and hope for the best. My fiancee's family lives a fairly simple life and have not had any dealings with immigration type things except for when he got his K1 visa. So they are understandably nervous, but I think everything will be fine. Thanks again!

Can't they come directly to the U.S.? My fiance is flying from Sao Paulo to Miami.

Our interview is scheduled for Sept. 1st in Rio de Janeiro per confirmation of an email sent by the consulate. I also received an appointment letter yesterday, but my fiance in Brasil has yet to receive any packet 4 from the embassy. (They do not issue a packet 3 as everything is available online). I am sending him a copy of the appointment letter as it states that he must take the letter to his interview. What else is contained in packet 4 besides the interview letter and the instructions for the medical? I saw something about a sworn statement, but I believe that is also available online. If we do not receive the packet 4 soon, do we need to contact the embassy? Also there is a typo in his name in the appointment letter. I don't know if it will be a problem, but they combined his mother's maiden name with his last name. (There should be a space in between). Any advice? We don't want there to be a problem when they issue the visa if it does not match his passport exactly. On our NOA1 and NOA2 letters, his name is spelled correctly as well as on all of the paperwork we submitted. Thank-you!

Try these links. they give you the information ad forms you need.

http://brasilia.usembassy.gov/index.php?it...n=immigrant.php

http://brasilia.usembassy.gov/index.php?ac...amp;itemmenu=58

My fiance has to fly from Fortaleza to Recife to get her medical. It's hard to believe that a city as large as Fortaleza does not have a doctor certified by the American Consulate. I'm concerned about 2 things. How long will it take to complete the medical and how long till the doctor has the sealed envelope? Does she have to pick up the envelope herself? This is crucial because if it takes a couple of weeks to get the envelope then she is going to have to fly back to Recife just to pick it up which is a waste of money and time. Can the doctor send it to her or can she have someone who lives in Recife pick it up for her?

It is very common that there is only one medical clinic authorized for this in the country. In Ukraine you have the medical exam in the morning and have the results same day after 3pm. It varies by country. Ask in the latin American forum for specific answers for Brazil

This post shows up on the Brazil portal page so I'm sure it is being seen by Brazilian immigrants. It looks like I have to call the doctor's officed. fortunately there are 2 doctors in Recife, better chance of having one of the doctors help out.

My fiance has to fly from Fortaleza to Recife to get her medical. It's hard to believe that a city as large as Fortaleza does not have a doctor certified by the American Consulate. I'm concerned about 2 things. How long will it take to complete the medical and how long till the doctor has the sealed envelope? Does she have to pick up the envelope herself? This is crucial because if it takes a couple of weeks to get the envelope then she is going to have to fly back to Recife just to pick it up which is a waste of money and time. Can the doctor send it to her or can she have someone who lives in Recife pick it up for her?

WOW!! This site is amazing, I only wish I had found it sooner. Probably would have saved me a lot of time and money. Yesterday my fiance was approved her K-1 Visa in Brazil. I am so excited especially since this whole process has lasted just about a year. I (unfortunately) got a lawyer thinking it would expedite the whole process but looking back on it I think I would have been better off just finding this website. I plan on sharing my story and all the trials and tribulations, but first I would like to say HELLO and venture around this new found website.

I did it without a lawyer and we just got approved by USCIS. Now it is off to Rio. I'm getting nervous.

Seconded. This is amazing and infuriating at the same time. Not directed toward the OP of course - I'm very happy and only a little envious for them! But infuriating in view of just how arbitrary USCIS can be about adjudicating these petitions. "In the order they are received" my... left foot.

Hi,

I understand your comment and as I have mention before, I have no idea why we got it so fast. But anyway it doesn't mean our journey is easy and that's our first huge great news in a good while. We really deserve to celebrate now and and I just wanted to post it to give everybody hopes and show that, as far as we don't know why, seems they are getting faster.

I wish all of you good luck, stay confident and pray, don't let the challenge overwhelmed you, sometimes we need time, we just don't know. Patrick and I, we had to be apart for 18 months, and trust me, it was horrible.

Stay positive!

Beinha

I'm a little envious too but we got our NOA2 Thursday, after 4 months, 23 days, so I'm happy for you and for me. Congrats, I hope you continue to run smoothly. I'm so nervous, I could spit. My fiance has to fly from Fortaleza to Recife just to get her medical. Can you believe that a city as large as Fortaleza does not have a certified doctor? It's gonna come fast now.

Bob

We just got our NOA2! We were #162 on Igor's List today. I just received the email confirmation from the USCIS Vermont Center.

We got our NOA1 March 3, 2009. Thought i'd share this with yall cause it looks like the march filers are up to bat!!

Thank you Jesus!!!

Aren't you relieved?! My NOA1 is March 6. My fiance is going nuts down in Brazil. Maybe, I can give her good news soon.

I had my medical done in Rio with Dr. Alexandre Boescu - he is on the consulate list. If I can recall, I went to see him right after receiving the letter from the Consulate in Rio with the instructions. I then made the appointment and sent the paper back to the consulate saying that I was ready for my interview. Meanwhile I went to see the doctor. (The consulate usually schedules the interview with a 30 days window, so he will have plenty of time).

Dr Alex did the general check-up and request for a bunch of lab work, which I used my medical insurance to pay for, all right. I guess it doesn't really matter where you have your labs done, as long as you have the doctor's request and the results are accurate.

It took a while to get the lab results, but everything went smoothly. I went back with the results, he filled out the forms and gave me the sealed envelop to take to my interview.

I guess they can't charge over U$ 100 for the appointment and he never charged me for the second visit.

Hope this helps.

How long did it take for the results? I hope that I don't have to fly my fiance to Recife just to pick up the sealed envelope.

Congrats and let us Brazilian connections know how it went. Some of us are still waiting for our NOA2 notice and it would be nice to hear what happens so we can prepare.

Hello all,

I am in need of some rather quick assistance.

Fiance has interview one week from today. We have all documents together except for one remaining police certificate. This was requested as per the consulate instructions two weeks ago. My fiance picked up the document this morning, however she is very concerned it is not the correct certificate.

I was wondering if anyone might have an example they could supply or share (obviously with their personal information blacked out) to compare against what she received today.

If there is somewhere on VJ where this example also exists, I would be happy to check that directly. Have been unable however to locate one. I can send you my personal email address through private message if needed...just shoot me a VJ message.

ANY assistance someone could provide would be a HUGE help. We have been enduring this lllooonnnnggg process for so long with one week to go until the interview and a possbililty this one last document is not correct....that would be a huge blow.

MANY MANY THANKS IN ADVANCE !!!!!

Mike

I was just down in Brazl last week and my fiance and I got hers while I was down there. I'm assuming you are talking about the state certificate and not the federal. My fiance got her's from the stae of Ceara and it was small, about 4 or 5 inches by about 7 or 8 inches.

As yall know my interview was on June 16 I arrived there ealier than expected around 07:00 and I was supposed to be there at 07:45 am but I was too anxious to keep myself inside a hotel room waiting , waiting ... so I had breakfast I took my bag and my big folders with all the forms ,evidences( emails, letters, marriage gift cards and plus other stuffs ) and pictures .

They checked all our names on a list and gave us a number that later one would be the number that the consul would call us for the interview there were about 15 people there I guess to recieve the visa , mots of them were very nervous , I tried to keep calm and belive that God was help me and all the others who were there in the same position .

A consular agent looked my papers and checked everything was according what they have requested for and she told me to wait that in few minutes the consul would call me for the real interview

I noticed that the 2 people that I was talking to and make some friendship left the Consul´s booth with joy , pleased and they told everything was fine their visa was approved , well and right them it was my turn ...

The consul asked me to rise my right hand and made sure if all the papers and ifnormations was true then I said yes... and he made this questions :

1) Have you ever been to USA ?

2) Where did you meet your husband and tell the story

3) When is his birthday ?

4) Do you know your mother-in law ?

5) and your father in law?

6) How did he purpose you ?

7) Do you have pictures ? let me see some ...

And he looked to face and said : Mrs Vanessa your is approved !!!!

Well the consul was calm but he was straight to the point , he seemed to be tough but he was gentle and kind.

He didnt look my emails and the other evidences but its always good to take with you every proove you have from your relationship, he kept the forms .... he looked at the support financial papers and proove such as I 134 , IRS , W2 and only .

Now good look for yall who are waiting for the NOA2, interviews, interview letters ... I hope everything work good and peacefully .

God Bless you

I just copied your email and trasnslated it into Portuguese on freetranslation.com and then emailed it to Vladia so she can feel a little less scared. Thanks. By the way, were you at your interview by yourself?

We're not even close to this point yet but when we get to the adjustment of status after we get married will my new wife need to gather all of the former documents that she used in the visa application at the consulate such as another official copy of her birth certificate? I'd like her to get it while she is still in Brazil.

They need copies of whatever federal tax form you filed (1040, 1040A, etc.).

H&R Block does not provide tax transcripts (the IRS does). The copies of the returns prepared by H&R Block are fine of course.

You also need all slips you submitted with those returns (income slips that is) like your W2 for example.

Call the IRS and ask for your transcripts of your tax returns and w-2's. They will be able to supply the last four years of returns and your w-2's with the exception of this year's w-2. You probably can get that from H&R. When I called the IRS, the lady was extremely nice and helpful. I was pleasantly surprised. I got my transcripts in the mail about a week later.

there was no question or reference to an earlier post, just try to give background info so the rest of us know what you meant thats all

This is accurate. Also, the title of the new thread was exceptionally generic.

I did not realize that there were such specific rules to posting. I just felt that the person I meant it for would see it. I guess I could have sent a personal message to that person instead. I will do so now.

There are no rules, but if you want to be helpful you might as well give some background information instead of throwing in some info out of the blue. And that would also prevent you from getting the reactions you got...

By the way, did you reach the person you wanted to reach?

Yes. Their interview is in the United States and is for a green card, not a visa. They did not spcify that in their post.

You are right about giving more background information. I will be more careful in the future. That still does not excuse someone for bad ediquette. Maybe he did not mean to be flippant but it sounded that way to me.

there was no question or reference to an earlier post, just try to give background info so the rest of us know what you meant thats all

This is accurate. Also, the title of the new thread was exceptionally generic.

I did not realize that there were such specific rules to posting. I just felt that the person I meant it for would see it. I guess I could have sent a personal message to that person instead. I will do so now.

There are no rules, but if you want to be helpful you might as well give some background information instead of throwing in some info out of the blue. And that would also prevent you from getting the reactions you got...

By the way, did you reach the person you wanted to reach?

Yes. Their interview is in the United States and is for a green card, not a visa. They did not spcify that in their post.

there was no question or reference to an earlier post, just try to give background info so the rest of us know what you meant thats all

This is accurate. Also, the title of the new thread was exceptionally generic.

I did not realize that there were such specific rules to posting. I just felt that the person I meant it for would see it. I guess I could have sent a personal message to that person instead. I will do so now.

And your point is?

I hope you weren't being flippant. There was someone else earlier that was worried about her Brazilian fiance not being able to speak English and was worried about the interview. Since many of these threads peter out after so many replies, I thought it best to start a new one to have a better chance of reaching that person and any others who might be worried about this. Why do you care what I post?