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BobbeD

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Posts posted by BobbeD

    UK CR-1 FILERS

    in IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Case Filing and Progress Reports

    Posted

    hello-

    we did CR1--filed in Nov. 2008 too--just finished at the embassy and Tom's heading home here on Wed! Good luck with your petition!

    Hi there - how far apart was Toms medical and interview? I am coming from Edinburgh, and I really have to save my money for the move and losing my job, having to make 2 journeys to London for the medical and then the Interview is a real pain.

    Don't quote me but I think you can get them done at the same time - the only issue will be that the embassy won't have the medical results so will have to give you a kind of provisional approval for the visa and it may take a couple more days for everything to come through. I'd give the embassy a call and check but I think you'll be ok doing this and it'll save you two trips.

    UK CR-1 FILERS

    in IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Case Filing and Progress Reports

    Posted

    Hi everyone

    Finally here is my review – I’ll post this here and on the general embassy reviews section. Thank you all for your kind wishes and congratulations.

    My appointment was at 8:30am and unlike all the people who seemed to arrive incredibly early, my husband and I only arrived just on time. He’d barely slept and my stomach had been in knots so it had been a difficult morning!

    We found the embassy easily as I’d checked where it was after my medical exam and we joined a long but clearly marked queue for visa applicants. Several officials were checking those in the queue to make sure we didn’t have any electrical items, weren’t wearing any metal items (belts etc had to be removed) and that we had invitation letters. I had emailed the embassy to inform them my husband would be joining me and received a reply confirming he would be added to the ‘list’ for the day, but no-one seemed to check any list before they let him through! When we got through this queue, the invitation letter was checked yet again before we even stepped foot into the security booth. Our bags and we were x-rayed and then we went through. We followed the signs round to the main entrance, went in and presented the invitation letter again at reception and were given a ticket number and told to wait in the main hall. I have to say I was pretty (perhaps naively) shocked when I went into the hall – it was absolutely heaving with people. It was a bit like Argos – huge TV screens with ticket numbers and announcements coming up every second – “ticket N300 to window 3” etc. We found a seat and waited… and waited… and finally at around 10am we were called to a counter. A perfectly nice guy took my fingerprints, gave me my x-ray, checked through the documents and asked me when I was planning to travel. He gave me a piece of paper to fill in with my details for the courier and asked me to take a seat again. We waited around another half an hour and then were called to another counter for the interview. We got a young, dark-haired lady who was very pleasant. She checked my fingerprints again (quite fascinated by the fact they did this twice in quick succession – anyone know why?!), looked through the documents and ‘swore me in’. She then told my husband that he was allowed to stay at the window but could not intervene in the interview. Her face changed at this point and she became completely poker faced, started twiddling her pen and stared at me. She asked me around 20 questions in very quick succession and I just responded – I don’t remember much about it because I think I was ‘in the zone’ but my husband says it was a bit like watching a ping-pong game because we were both so fast!! He also says she went back and forth from subject to subject, possibly trying to catch me out. I was very surprised at the number of questions, given other reviews I’ve read, but just kept on answering them. So, the questions, in no particular order:

    - when and where did you meet?

    - why did you meet? (worked for the same company)

    - which company did you work for?

    - when did you begin your relationship?

    - when did you get married?

    - where did you get married?

    - is this your first marriage?

    - is this his first marriage?

    - do you have children?

    - does he have children?

    - how many times has he visited you in the UK?

    - how long did you work in the USA?

    - what is the longest time you have spent there apart from that?

    - how have you kept in touch during the long-distance relationship?

    - have you ever had any trouble with immigration?

    - have you ever been arrested or had any trouble with the law in any country?

    - which countries have you lived in for more than 12 months since the age of 16?

    - why did you choose to live in the USA and not the UK?

    I think that was all! She then stopped, smiled and told me that she was very pleased to say that my visa had been approved. She told me a few things about the courier service, how long it would take, the envelope that mustn’t be opened etc – but to be honest I was quite oblivious as all I could think about was the fact that my visa had been approved. We then queued up, paid for the courier service and left, still in shock. She hadn’t looked at a single document, although we had been the most organized we’ve ever been!! We took copies of our USCIS and NVC files, along with originals and copies of marriage certificate, birth certificate and police certificate (I’d had two of all of these from the start), plus Charles’ tax returns and pay slips and a big pack of emails, photos, wedding cards etc. My poor hubbie lugged this all to the embassy for nothing, but I’m still glad we took it just in case.

    Still waiting for the courier, but hopefully it’ll arrive soon. We have our flights booked for 21st July.

    In case anyone is looking for a good hotel, we booked the Darlington Hyde Park via laterooms.com and were very happy – about 20 mins walk from the embassy and very pleasant and good value.

    Good luck to everyone else!!

    UK CR-1 FILERS

    in IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Case Filing and Progress Reports

    Posted

    Hi everyone

    Just a quick note to let you know I got my visa!!!! It should be mailed in a few days. I'll post a more detailed embassy review as soon as I have time but for now I'm just relaxing with my husband - finally! It was a challenging experience - lots of nerves and a surprising amount of questions at the interview, but we got there and I can't tell you what a relief it is, I feel so much calmer now and ready to prepare for my departure.

    Good luck to those with interviews coming up - I promise I'll do my full review as soon as poss.

    Bobbe

    :dance: :dance: :dance:

    UK CR-1 FILERS

    in IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Case Filing and Progress Reports

    Posted

    :star: All Done:

    6/12...wildcat42539...Approved!...:star:....POE 6/26

    6/12...graham_ni.......Approved!...:star:....POE ?

    POE will be this Saturday :-)

    How exciting - we're all finally getting there! Strange, but time seems to be moving so slowly at the moment - I guess I'm just impatient because it's getting so close now. I had my medical last Friday and it all seemed to go well, despite some fairly personal comments from the doctor, and not just about me but about her IBS too!! Oh well, you have to grin & bear it I suppose... :rolleyes:

    Good luck everyone - looking forward to hearing all your updates.

    UK CR-1 FILERS

    in IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Case Filing and Progress Reports

    Posted

    Hi there, I had my interview on Friday and it all went well, I thought I'd pass on a few thoughts and observations. It was in the London office.

    1. Please please please make sure you read the Embassy-specific notices, up to and even on the day of the interview. I saw a few people be moved out of line and sent to the nearest storage facility (probably Paddington Station) for having electrical items (ANY sort that they could not throw into the trash, electric car keys etc). I had to bin my keyfob because it had a battery inside, they are that strict. We got there at around 7:30am, were fifth or 6th in line, and were inside and seated by 7:50am.

    2. We were third (my wife was over from the US with me) of the CR-1s, and were seen initially at around 8:20am.

    3. The first part seemed to be more of an admin section, making sure that all the documents were in place (they were fine before the day, so this was all good). We were given an address form for postage to fill out.

    4. We then went back to the waiting area to, well, wait. This took a while, I'm assuming that the actual case agent was going through the documents. We were recalled at around 10:30am.

    5. The actual interview was at a counter (no seats), and after introductions I was asked to swear an oath (non-religious) that I was giving the truth to the best of my ability.

    6. I was told that my wife could remain at the counter with me, but I was instructed not to look at her during questioning and to refer to her in the third person.

    7. The questions related to our relationship, the wedding, and the current financial situation. On the latter we were slightly atypical, so it required some explanation on a few things, but everything was fine and in order.

    8. The agent then said 'congratulations', told me that I had been successful, and asked if I had any questions. I asked if I could hug my wife... :-)

    9. We then had to take the postage form to the DX counter and pay for that, it was around £15 for the basic one with no delivery time constraints.

    10. We went home and had some champagne.

    All in, it was handled very efficiently, everyone was very polite, but they are very strict and very security conscious, so err on the side of caution at all times.

    ga

    Hi Graham

    Thanks for this info! I see you had your wife with you - did you have to notify the embassy in advance of this? My hubbie will be with me and I'm not sure if and how I need to notify the embassy.

    Thanks

    Bobbe

    UK CR-1 FILERS

    in IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Case Filing and Progress Reports

    Posted

    got my interview date today..! July 14th :dance:

    Congrats on the interview date.. you are almost done.

    thanks.! i'm so glad this is almost over it seems to have taken forever, with a bit of luck i'll make it over there for our annirversary :)

    I got my date too!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WOOOHOOO!!! And unbelievably it's July 1st - don't know how that happened, but I'm over the moon. Looks like my hubbie will come over for it and we'll travel back together - the first time we'll ever have taken a flight together. So happy but completely shocked too and quite unprepared - still need to get my medical, finish up a million and one things. But I'm not complaining :innocent:

    :dance::dance::dance:

    Good luck everyone - let's all report back on our interviews.

    UK CR-1 FILERS

    in IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Case Filing and Progress Reports

    Posted

    Thanks to Imaisha for pointing me in the direction of this - all of a sudden I don't feel so alone anymore!!

    My case has been a bit of a 'mare at NVC but seems to be close to case complete now - I'm just hoping and praying it'll be in time for me to get assigned a visa interview this month. I called today to be told that IF it gets completed this week and IF there aren't too many people ahead of me (I didn't realise that made a difference) I might get assigned an interview next week. It's so difficult - on the one hand I feel so ready to go now but at the same time I don't want to get ahead of myself if I might have to be here for a few months longer.

    Well folk, on the up side - what fab weather we're having!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :dance:

    Good luck to everyone.

    Bobbe

    wish me luck!

    in IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & Procedures

    Posted

    After an unexpectedly fast turnaround at USCIS, our CR-1 petition has been taking a while at NVC due to a RFE. They've told us today that it's in final review and IF we get case complete this week and IF there aren't too many cases ahead of us, we could be scheduled a visa interview next week (hopefully for July). So I am now keeping everything crossed and counting the minutes until I find out... :clock:

    Good luck to everyone who is also in this waiting game and please keep your fingers crossed for me!

    Name change

    in IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & Procedures

    Posted

    Yes, you can change your passport in the US. The visa is only needed for entering the country. after that its irrelevant. You will get your greencard after entering the country, which you will also have to change.

    Or (looking at your timeline) you still have time to get it done before your interview, as it only takes 2 weeks - saves the hassle of having to get it changed later.

    Checking case online

    in IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & Procedures

    Posted

    We just got our NOA1... i tried checking the status of the case online but it says somthing like they haven't "located" the case online, call the national service center costumer service.. WHAT DOES THIS MEAN THEN???

    I wouldn't worry - mine never appeared until the day I got approved! I got exactly the same message. It seems completely random...

    candian police certificate

    in Canada

    Posted

    I have thwarted the Canadian system!!! Hahaha! They contract with other agencies, including Commissionaire. I contacted them and they will do a name based criminal record check (CPIC) and send the results within 2 weeks. I contacted them through the main office in Ottawa and they emailed the forms and instructions. You then have to email them a credit card for payment. I will take the 2 weeks over 6 months wait any time!

    Thank you everyone for all your help. This result is proof that the law of attraction works..........and I am grateful to the universe for making it possible for my husband to get here sooner.

    Kirsten

    Hi Kirsten

    Please keep us updated as to whether the name based check is accepted - I may have to apply for one too (lived in Canada for 11 1/2 months so may get away with it...) so this would be very helpful, otherwise I think I'll have to fly to Canada! Good luck :thumbs:

    Police certificate.

    in National Visa Center (Dept of State)

    Posted

    Do bear in mind that if you get digital fingerprints it takes only 72 hours for them to process but if you get ink fingerprints it takes minimum 120 days - I just came up against this myself (luckily I be able to should get away with not having one as I was only there for 11 1/2 months). So make sure you allow plenty of time!

    checking status

    in IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & Procedures

    Posted

    Does it really happened when you check your status online and it says error? We got our NOA1 and use the receipt number to check our status but it says error...We tried to call the USCIS, and it says that its not on there system yet.

    Its very possible that USCIS has not inputted it into their system yet. When did you receive your NOA1??? Give it a few more days.

    Also do a time line please. :time:

    We got our NOA1 2nd week of January. Aside from waiting, so we need to call them often till they got tired hehehehe joke

    WOW, yes you should be in their systme by now. Are you sure you created a account for yourself on the USCIS website on checking your progress on your petition???

    A number of people have reported not being able to check their case status online. Try calling USCIS and mention that you are unable to get a status of your case online, and see if they can help.

    Yes, it's a definite problem right now. Make sure you call them. I called them last week to let them know that mine is not available online or in the phone system and was informed that there was a "computer glitch" and it was passed along to their tech group. They couldn't say how long it would take the tech group to fix it though. Like I said, it's been a week and it's not fixed yet, so I'm not holding my breath, but you should definitely call them.

    My case didn't show up in the online system until the day it was approved (6 weeks after NOA1) - I wouldn't worry about it!

    Question about the Polis certificate

    in IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & Procedures

    Posted

    I'm currently gathering all the doc.s for I-130 ..I thought we do need to submit a police record for I-130 as well.

    Where did you see saying "do not attempt to obtain police certificate covering residence in any of the following countries , as they are not available"

    Thnx for any help.

    I need some help to translate "when the polic cert. is needed "on the following page http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...i130guide1-STEP BY STEP How to prepera I-130.

    We are just at the begining of the process;so I'm assembling all the required forms for I-130.According to the above link,I will need the polic cert. during the interview.So does it mean that,I don't need to mail it with my original I-130 package.

    Sorry since it takes two months to get a polic cert. from my home country,It does make difference whether or not I send it with the initial package..

    Thnx so much for any help

    Hi

    You won't need the police certificate for the I-130 petition but you will need it once your petition is approved and the case goes to NVC (before your visa interview) - my advice is to get it asap. I've just had my I-130 approved and don't have my police certificates ready, and have just found out that one of them could take 4 months.

    I'm a newbie and I had a question...

    in IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & Procedures

    Posted

    the NVC process for CR-1 visa is much more involved than for a K type visa. So best to review the shortcuts and the CR-1 flow chart on the wiki to get a good picture of what you will be looking at. The CR-1 visa has 2 different flow paths, 1 for the petitioner- affidavit of support ( AOS) Billing (70 USD) and AOS form (I-864). And 1 for the beneficiary- DS-3032 (choice of agent), DS-230 (beneficiary bio data)or also known as package IV and the bill for IV package (400 USD). To have a quick time thru NVC the DS-3032 is the key. It will keep the 2 paths close in timing. As soon as you get your case number and you find the DS-3032 has been generated (by calling NVC) you can email it to them using the link i described above.

    personally i felt the USCIS portion was the worst because of the time it took to complete. NVC for us was quick we went from DS-3032 approved to case complete in 15 days by following the shortcuts and being prepared. I would suggest you download the DS-230 and the I-864 now and start collecting the documents needed before they are needed this will save you a great amount of time. My wife had her case complete before she even received her hard copy of the DS-3032. So waiting on NVC is an option but snail mail is slow and thats why you see days vs months on completes.

    here are the links i talked about

    http://www.visajourney.com/examples/NVC_Pr...wchart_v1-2.pdf

    http://www.visajourney.com/wiki/index.php/...he_NVC_ShortCut

    http://www.visajourney.com/wiki/index.php/Jame%27s_Shortcut

    hope they help.

    Thanks very much for these links - I'm in a similar position (NOA2 just received) and am a little lost as to what happens next. We're working with a lawyer who is really nice but just tells us what she needs at each point in time and doesn't really talk us through the entire process (probably trying to save us!) but I like to know the nitty gritty too. This is all great and really informative. :thumbs:

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