Daniel and Rianne

Thanks! We are sure working on all that evidence but I mean I don't have to send anything out any time soon.

I think you mean evidence for the I-751? > like bankacccounts, insurance, house, pictures, taxes etc?

Thank you all for your quick response!

It kind a feel good that I can relax a while after all the visa paperwork! All that paperwork is so stressful!

And I know everyone want to do their best and not making any mistakes but that mean I can stay away from paperwork till somewhere in 2012!? Just want to make sure I don't forget anything!

Im here in the USA and I want to stay by my husband!! lol!

Everyone good luck in your journey!

Hopefully someone can help me with my question.

My husband and I got married in January 2009, we started the paperwork and I entered the USA on May 2010 got my greencard June 2010.

Got my SSN# and am now looking into my driverslicense etc and also having our house in my name etc. etc.

While I was at the immigration office the officer told me I had to fill out I-751 before our 2nd anniversary.

I asked you mean our weddinanniversary? he said yes.

Now I have been reading the I-751 forums but I guess the officer didn't understand me correct??? but seems like I have to fill out the I-751 the 2nd anniversary of being here in the USA.

So that will be around February 2012?

So what is correct???

Our 2nd weddinganniversary or my 2nd anniversary being here in the USA?

Hopefully someone can find the time to answer my question!

Thank you in advance!

Hello Everybody!!!

I'm in Netherlands right now, having a very nice time with Maarten. I am returning in couple of days, so will write a quick message for now. We finally got our interview date for October 19th. Good news, but we expected it a bit earlier. It took 4 weeks to receive packet 4 after sending packet 3.

I just finished filling out the affidavit form, so almost ready for the interview Next: medical.

-Anna

Wow how cool that you are in the Netherlands by Maarten! Enjoy it!

Congrats with getting the interview date! hope it goes smooth!

I am ready for my interview next week have all evidence in a map for the consulate... and map with the copy for myself.

Take care and have fun!

@Liz- Nope, he never got a response AND the woman he talked to from the Amsterdam consulate on the phone was extremely rude. He even mentioned how he didn't know what other people were talking about when it came to the friendly staff because this woman he talked to on the phone was neither friendly nor nice to him. Johnny said she seemed as though she didn't even want to have to talk to him or help him out at all.

I have gotten several rude people on the phone as well when dealing with immigration; sometimes I think it's because I sound so young and they think I'm stupid and can boss me around, well let me tell you, they are most definitely wrong.

@Ri- I'm glad to hear you got everything figured out and have your fourth packet now!

Hey Lin,

Really to bad that Johnny got such a bad phonecalls and you too... and NO response? Wow, that is really bad!

I have to say the people at USCIS weren't that friendly either. But in the email it went ok.

I did email with the American Consulate before and shortly after that they called me and that woman was very friendly to me.

You never know... It is just so bad because for us it is so important, i mean the whole process you do because you love each and want to be by each, but the people which work there, they just do their work.

Thats why I am happy with websites like this, you can share what you think you can help each and we know where we go through.

Well about the 4th package, i got that already and well that is the package for the medical so I had my medical last Monday, just waiting for my interview and visa!

Can't wait!

Happy its weekend so we are able to skype again... from being by each to talking which each once a week is kind a hard but well hopefully soon...

Take care! love Ri

Hey all,

Thanks for your explanation, LOL!

I think i figured it out.

The package left NVC August 12. I got from them a letter with interviewdate+instructions for my medical.

After it left NVC I got a letter from the American Consulate in Amsterdam (address is on the envelope) and they did send it on August 14.

So I figured they got it August 14.

I never got packet 3 but I think only when you are K-1 or K-3 you get that and not with CR-1.

Because the NVC did send me the appointment letter with the interviewdate and in the letter from American Consulate they wrote down that interviewdate too.

When you are K-1 or K-3 I think after you get packet 3 you have to send it back and get than an interview date.

In the letter from American Consulate was de envelope for my medical and that is pack 4.

Well take care and have a nice weekend!

All the pictures are on facebook....idk if it works when i add a link in here Wedding pictures facebook

The paperwork for AOS etc wasnt even that hard...are you applying for the employment and AP too?

We plan to go back to Holland in November to visit family and attend a wedding....yeahhh!

Take care!

OH JEANINE!!! You look gorgeous!!! that dress...WOW! John looks so handsome..hehe..and a bit nervous.. ;-) Everything was lovely!!!

btw...I sent you a request to be friends on Facebook..

Yep, we'll be applying for those as well. I read through the guides on here today and downloaded all the forms....it looks MUCH easier than the K1 petition!

Oh cool! I'm sure your family will be so happy your there for a visit!

Hey Liz,

It is so exciting that your wedding is coming up!

Yes, there is always something to do till the day is there!

I just have a question, but I think it is a dumb question, how do you know that your package is received at the american consulate in Amsterdam?

Because I am looking at my papers and I can't find it at all. Is there a way that i can figured that out online?

Hope you can answer my question!

Have a nice weekend!

Ri

Thanks Blu, My mom and I parked at Olympisch Stadion in Amsterdam. And we paid 6 euro (this is for 24 hours and with 2 retour-tickets)

You can park by the doctor but than you pay like 5 euro for 1 hour!!!

Yes i used the internet to figured out where to park. The P+R parking is the cheapest in Amsterdam i think. Its like a sort of transferium

We both got 1 ticket we could use for the GVB (tram is blue/white, you can only use that ticket for the GVB).

When you enter the tram you stamp it and get 1 hour to go to the centrum of Amsterdam and do what ever you want. The tram goes about every 10 minutes or so. And you can get back to the Olympisch Stadion and stamp it when you go back.

My mom and I never did something like that so we were totally confused, i thought we could go with the normal bus too but we couldn't but they took us without paying which was very, very nice.

So we went to the Dr. Schulte and for the X-ray and i have to say what a laugh!!! I mean those buildings are soooooooo old and even the badrooms are old, i almost can't believe! I mean this whole process you pay a lot and they sounds really picky etc. but after my medical i had something like, are you serious??? This isn't a real clinic or what ever.

Dr. Schulte is a home doctor and his wife is the secretary they both are very nice people! The doctor told me it is not my idea to do this all but the Consulate want this, i have a fulltime job with my home-doctor thing but this is something extra i do.

The medical went very fast, just getting blood for the HIV-test, your weight, length, vaccination rapport, listening to your healthy story ;-), and listening to your hear/lungs and that was it. After you pay like what you need to pay. (155 euro for the appointment + eventually vaccinations)

(Hepatitis B, BMR, DKTP about the price i have no idea because I had them (but it vary from 30 till 150 if you let it do by this doctor??? I thought??? You can easily call Mrs. Schulte and ask, she is so friendly and i am sure she will tell)

The mrs. by the X-ray was very nice too. We were done early by Dr. Schulte so we went right way to the X-ray place. I told them i have an appointment made later this day, but no problem they made it. The doctor which look at the X-ray wasn't there but is there today, they will forward it to Dr. Schulte and they take care for getting it by the consulate.

After all, my mom went back to the Museumplein and found the consulate and the entrance, so i know where I have to be at Sept. 29.

My mom and I did some sightseeing in Amsterdam (used the ticket ;-).

I have to tell, it was the first time for me being in Amsterdam!!! And I am 26 only went to Schiphol!!! LOL!!! But what a nice city and a lot to do!!

After all the visa stuff i stopped by a bookstore close by the Concertgebouw and bought a map of Amsterdam so i know what we can do the next time that we are in Amsterdam. If Daniel is here in NL i would like to go there together with him!

I think someone asked me about our honeymoon? and i think i didn't answer that yet.

Well, Maui was great!!! It was so relaxing to go there together with my husband! We went end August so it wasn't packed with tourists. A great time to go!

Maui is beautiful!!! Clear, blue/green ocean. You can look till the bottom. We did some snorkling saw nice fish, sea turtles, corals.

We did a helicopter tour which was great! We did the Zipline which was a lot of fun because the man which was working at that is from Amsterdam!!! He asked me in dutch are you from the Netherlands? I said yes: He said i heard your accent, so I never thought, expected someone from NL on Maui!!! LOL! He lived there 7 years already and got his greencard in 2003 or so.

We did some shopping of course and really love the harbor where all the shops were.

Had a nice dinnercruise. Went for a sunrise which was 10.000 feet above sealevel. It was beautiful!

Maui was great, really wish we stayed longer and we both like to go back! :-)

Hey all!

I am back in NL again after 6 weeks with my husband and a great "late"honeymoon to Maui which was beatiful and great!

Monday i have my medical appointment and X-ray. So I have to go to Amsterdam. I am going with my car so my mom and I can make a day in Amsterdam (we never did) (had to make an appointment for the x-ray too, can not walk in)

Where did everyone park if they went by car?

I know i can park by the concertgebouw which is expensive.

But i know there is a transferium which is nice when you make a day at Amsterdam, did anyone of you use that??? Which one? There are 3 options!

And how long did it take you from the date of interview till you got your passport with visa back?

Everyone congrats with approvals!!!

My husband can't go with to the interview because he is in training... hope it goes well!

Blu, glad you still have your ranch! The fires were 30 minutes away from our house. We drove trough antelope valley on sunday and saw the flames on the tops of the mountains!

Peet, great you are in the USA now! Good luck with settling down!

When is Pat going to USA Liz? > just saw your timeline, its 10/10 wooah great!

I hope i get my visa before Nov. 7 so i can go to the Marine corps ball! (But my interview is Sept. 29)

Take care! Good luck!

Its a small world Blu! That you live close by Rosamond! LOL!

In what place to do you live?

Are you in NL now? Have a great time!

I am having a great time with my husband too! Next week our honeymoon, and i can't wait! LOL!

Wooah, that is a sweet story!!!

Where do you live in CA?

Ri, I live in Santa Cruz, about 2-hour drive south from San Francisco. We will later move closer to San Francisco. I see that you leave somewhere close to LA?

Hi we live in Rosamond its about 1h45min away from LA (sure it depends on the traffic but this is when you can keep driving! LOL)

Its always fun to see where people are and how close so i use google maps a lot ;-) LOL!

Are you more in the area with lots of fires? This year not to bad heh?

Peet, if i were you, I would everything pack in the carry on related to visa stuff.

And well we can pack like 18 kilo in a carry on? and like 23 in a suitcase?

Just bought a nice carry on with 4 wheels (american tourister) at Wallmart for a great price!!! I can't believe the prices for suitcases here and than in NL! I pay dollars here and in NL for the same item in euro!!

Oh and Liz, i emailed the lawyer and they are going to contact the embassy how it is lately. Because i know NL will not give your police certificate!!!

From what i heard from other people is that it goes automatic. So we will see.

Hey! I am not too far from Rosamond!

-Blu-(Howdy neighbor)

Wooah, that is a sweet story!!!

Where do you live in CA?

Ri, I live in Santa Cruz, about 2-hour drive south from San Francisco. We will later move closer to San Francisco. I see that you leave somewhere close to LA?

Hi we live in Rosamond its about 1h45min away from LA (sure it depends on the traffic but this is when you can keep driving! LOL)

Its always fun to see where people are and how close so i use google maps a lot ;-) LOL!

Are you more in the area with lots of fires? This year not to bad heh?

Peet, if i were you, I would everything pack in the carry on related to visa stuff.

And well we can pack like 18 kilo in a carry on? and like 23 in a suitcase?

Just bought a nice carry on with 4 wheels (american tourister) at Wallmart for a great price!!! I can't believe the prices for suitcases here and than in NL! I pay dollars here and in NL for the same item in euro!!

Oh and Liz, i emailed the lawyer and they are going to contact the embassy how it is lately. Because i know NL will not give your police certificate!!!

From what i heard from other people is that it goes automatic. So we will see.

Liz,

Thank you so much but we got an email from the lawyer and its the 2nd time already that they ask it and tell me how to get it.

They say i need to go to the embassy with that letter 15 days before the interview and i was thinking i don't have to because nobody do that because we dont' get it.

Thank you Liz! I will email them your answer! LOL!

Take care!

About to go to the store...what will we eat today? Every day the same question! LOL!

Love Ri

Wooah, that is a sweet story!!!

Where do you live in CA?

I am having a question to all of you!

How did the dutchies got their police record??? I mean we need it, will it be ready at the interview?

I know we can't get it.... but how to care for that?

Ri - You don't have to worry about the police letter...the consulate requests that for you.

Wooah, that is a sweet story!!!

Where do you live in CA?

I am having a question to all of you!

How did the dutchies got their police record??? I mean we need it, will it be ready at the interview?

I know we can't get it.... but how to care for that?

Hi Ri, I am sure when we will be with our SO's, we also will not be online that much (only talking about me here, hehe) Congratulations with your interview date and have a wonderful time with your husband!

OK we did not tell you our 'how we met' story yet, so here is it... Maarten and I met in April 2008 in St. Louis (and now you know how I chose my screen name ) at the scientific conference. We were both PhD students, I am in univ. in California and Maarten in univ. in Holland. The first first time we met was actually in April 2007 at the same conference held in Seattle, but we both don't remember anything except that we talked at some point... I guess it was not love from the first sight LOL so we were given a chance to meet again a year later. So when I saw Maarten that time, I came and said 'hello I remember you' and he remembered me too. We went out for dinners and a bit of sightseeing in the evenings with a group of 6-8 people from the conference (students), and finally the last evening Maarten and I went out just the two of us. It was the most romantic time of my life, at the most romantic place we could find in St. Louis (the arch). Still, we agreed that we should not do a 'long distance relationship' because the distance is really looong. By chance, our flights departures were only 30 min apart and in neighboring gates the next morning. That was our first time to say 'bye' and we though it would be a real 'bye'. Sigh. When I came back, I slept for about 16 hours -- don't ask me how I could do that, I can hehe, and I had about 2 h sleep the day before. When I woke up, Maarten already arrived back home and found me on Facebook. Then we chatted, then called, a week later we started skyping, and two weeks later we agreed that we are in the 'long distance relationship' . Maarten visited me for 3 weeks in July, and after that we visit each other every 2.5-3 months (2 trips to Holland and 4 trips to CA).

After reading our story, you are several minutes closer to seeing your SO again Hope everyone is having a nice week!

-Anna

Hey all!!!

I have not been online that much just enjoying the time i get with my husband here!

Its great!!! :-)

Last saturday my mom called me with great news: my interview date!!!

September 29!!!

My mom will try to make my medical appointment and otherwise i will make it when i am back in NL beginning of september.

They will copy the things they got so we can read it because its like dreaming!

I haven't updated my timeline because we are using a lawyer for the NVC process which is a very good lawyer! I know we could do this process without but for us it is worth it, that way i get my visa faster and can be with my husband while he is home in the USA and not away for a deployment!

We are so happy!

Next week we are going for our "late" honeymoon! :-)

Take care and great to hear that some of you got the chance to meet each!

Love Ri

OMG! So my fiance got his interview date! Aug 25th! Since I will be there on Aug 21st, this means I will get to go! Funny how that timing worked out. I booked a flight for Amsterdam back in March. We are over the top excited! Can anyone give me any tips or ideas what kinds of questions they might ask?

-Blu-(WOOOOOHOOOOO )

Blu...Happy for you!!! :-)

Liz, its wonderful to have something planned out! Or working on weddingplans!

Hi I am Active duty Army, I want to bring my girl friend from Mexico to USA and marrry her I love her very much. I have all documentss translated and I have all the fiance paperork filled out, however her youngest daughter's father is not at all involved in her life and I want to know what we will need in order to bring her over here with no problems. She has a divorce decree and all that states she has custody of oldest daughter. The ex husband is OK with her coming here and is a decent guy. I just dont know exactly what we will need to do for the littlest one. Thanks for your input in advance. Also I have heard that because I am active duty military our application may be expedited, is this true, I HOPE SO. Thanks again !

Hey...

Yes, there is sometimes an expedite for active duty military people.

When you have deployment orders or know you will get them soon.

You can also go to a higher ranked person in the military like your commander and ask if he will write a memorandum...

Maybe he will do that for you and that letter is what you need to send to USCIS, you can scan and email.

Call USCIS and ask about military expedite. There is a military helpline so call that line. They will help you answering your questions. And tell you what you need and where to email

Good luck in the process!

Wish you all a nice weekend too!

I am counting down the last couple days! Getting excited to go to my husband again! Can't wait!

Thinking what to pack... i don't like packing because i can't choose what i want to take with!

TODAY: Jeanine get married with John!

Hope she get a nice wedding, just figured out it is raining there!

But... from OUR day i remember... weather doesn't really matter, sure sun is nice, but its the special day, the people at that day and finally be husband and wife through the weddingvows... its so special!

Take care!

TGIF!!!

Hope you all have a fantastic weekend!!

Liz... i see a new timeline... a count down to your wedding! YEAH, that is so exciting! Keep counting! :-)

Is everything planned out? Good luck!

Hello again, today i called uscis to see how my case is doing and still just pending they said and not outside processing times to request a service review. Also i put in a expedite requests and they emailed me a couple hours later to tell me that i didnt provide enough evidence to have them expedite my case. Which i cant understand how they could make that decision in a few hours. I replied back and asked what evidence to they need. I didnt say this in my reply but i was thinking you didnt even ask for any before yu made the decision. Hopefully they will email me back letting me know what i need to send them. I asked for expedite because my husband financially supported me when i lived in Morocco and also that i need to have surgery and my husband must take care of me after surgery. But when i did call about an old cause on an ex to see when it was going to get closed finally, the day after they touched my case and i receive the rejection notice in the mail that next week. So hopefully me calling today will make my case have a touch and then an approval notice. Time will tell and ill let you all know. I check three times a day my case on USCIS and still nothing.

Okay, just wanted to share what happened when i called today.

Take care everyone, sweetcitywife

Hope you hear soon from CSC and that you get an expedite because your surgery.

Well...when you call USCIS you need to tell your case number... and than you will see a touch... So that touch doesn't really mean that they look at your case on that moment. I really think it is because calling.

I had the same thing... but after we got approved for expedite we got touches and i know from another girl she got touches after approval for expedite than you really know they are working on it.

The touch after calling...was nothing!

But hope you are lucky!

Hope all April filers get good news soon!

that was a happy monday!!!

I'll update later, but for now, we are approved!!!!

We are getting our visa's, it went great, easy, smooth, everyone was helpful and really nice.

Somehow we seem to be unique and our visa's have to be switched from one place to another.

But hey, we will be getting them.

For now good night and we'll talk soon, now, Jack is here and I don't want to waste time behind the pc

YEAH!!! CONGRATS PEET!!!

I am so happy for you!

Yes, enjoy the time that Jack is by you!

Hope you get your passports back soon!!!

Hello and God bless everyone, I have not been on for awhile as I just recently moved so only my husband was able to log in. But let me say Congrats to all of those who recently been approved and to the rest of us that are waiting as well to be encouraged our approval is on the way!! Again congrats on the approvals and may the rest of your journey speedily come!!

Thank you so much!

hope your journey goes smoothly and that you/everyone get an approval soon!

Take care and try to stay positive, its all worth at the end but still its hard to be seperated!

Hope you all get approvals soon! I am waiting to see good news at this discussion board!

Well if the March filers get approvals than hopefully the april filers get approvals soon too!

Hang in there!!!

Well after the approval keep in mind it can take a while before it is received at NVC! I just called the automatic voice system and figured out our NVC case # it took 14 days after USCIS to get into NVC system! But now it is there, now its not only waiting but we also can do something!

Liz, take care! hope all is well with your house! Don't work to hard though! Hope you have a nice weekend!

Peet, that is really to bad!!! Its the 2nd time water in the house isn't it? Wow, soon Jack is coming!! And wow, a little baby in the family! Congrats!

Good luck with the interview!!!

Just called NVC got the automatic voice thing...and figured out NVC got our case 14 days after our I-130 approval, they received it yesterday! Well up to the rest and hope that goes smooth!

Have a nice weekend!

I called the GGD and they can do it for me.. But I do not want to spend money on something when its not neccasarry. This process already costs a lot.. And we don't have much. Is there something I can call. To know for sure?

You can also contact your own family doctor, that's what I did. They should have a list of the requirements as well, you can have them done there. They give you a prescription for the vaccinations, you go and pick them up at your local pharmacy, and you make a return appointment to have the shots administered (but make sure your doctor marks them on your vaccination record). This way, most of it should be covered by your insurance, since your own doctor prescribed them.

Congrats with your marriage! See it was this week! WOOAH!

Hope you had a nice day!

Guess now the rest of the immigrant stuff! ;-)

Good luck!

Hi Rianne,

You should look into the post they made under NVC, shortcuts and knowing your case # (http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=117). Maybe you already did, but I found it very helpful to know what they were going to ask.

I wasn't really into risking the shortcuts besides the first one. I emailed them with the address where I wanted my mail to be send to (my husband, so it wouldn't take forever to receive overseas mail) and was already working on the second form when I finally received the original address form. I also downloaded the forms they request to fill out and went ahead to fill them out and mailed them to my husband (the once I could, so not when they had a bar code on them). He waited for the next package from the NVC, made sure he had all the documents I previously mailed to him, and would forward it to the NVC. This way we saved us the mailing time between Europe and the US.

Letty

Yep, we do the same thing! :-)

I got the shortcut from Paul. So glad with those checklists etc.

Because the whole process is already taking a long time, this way we can make it a little shorter ;-) LOL!

But I think i can better mail it to NL because my husband get training and isn't home somewhere in sept/oct

Thanks for your advice!

Ri

Since I'm curious and completely bored out of my mind here at work, I went ahead to see how quick the NVC is right now. If everything goes smooth you will be looking at about 3 to 4 months processing time till your interview. Remember, things can easily take longer, we got an RFE because they changed something after we already had submitted the documents!!

Letty

Hoi Letty,

I did try to send you a message but couldn't do that so i hope you read the topic this way ;-)

My husband did scan the approval letter and send it by email to me.

If I understand it correct... NVC contact me?

Hope you remember! LOL! And the whole time I think my husband get post or what ever from NVC after they receive our case from USCIS and that can take a while!

Greets Ri

What I remember is that after almost 2 weeks I finally managed to obtain my NVC case number. It takes a little while for them to assign you one. Not sure how long it will be now, but like I said it used to be around 14 days.

I copied the instructions which you can find under the nvc-forum subject:

NVC Automated Voice Response Service

So your I-130 petition has been approved and forwarded to NVC

Now you are wanting to know if it has been received and a case number assigned

You can use your CIS (NOA) receipt number from your approval to find out.

On calling the NVC automated voice response number (603) 334-0700 you will.... press 1 for English press 2 for Spanish

press 1 for information about your immigrant visa

It will then ask you if you know your CIS receipt number.....press 1

(Once you have a case number you can use this.....press 2)

You then follow the instructions to key in your number.

If will then tell you if NVC has received the petition, and assigned a number.

Hopefully things will go smooth there. This part of the process gave me more hope, because they request information every few weeks so you have the feeling they are doing something instead of the first part (I-130 approval), which you don't know what is going on or even if they are doing something at all.

Letty

Hey Letty,

Thank you so much for your answer!!! Glad you found my message on this topic to you!

I just thought I had to wait till i get some post from NVC.

I did call that line but its not received yet, well its just 1 week ago approved so the approval letter already say keep in mind it can take 90 days. But I just tried, because i know a couple girls got a number from NVC 1 week after the approval letter!

You are so right about the first part...its so hard to wait and not to know if they are looking at it or not.

From what i read and see at people timelines its like you need to do something and a couple weeks later another thing etc. Than you have more the feeling like they are looking at it and do something! Its more active, the first part is more passive.

Take care!

Ri