Ste&Velma

These days my EAD has been finally approved; the last update on the case is from yesterday, and today we've received an e-mail update from USCIS stating that they sent an approval notice ( ?) to my address. Just wondering, does the "notice" contains the actual EAD card, or is it just another useless waste of paper and money? [i won't mention my exasperation about it...] Thanks in advance for sharing your experiences.

Stefano

It will take some time. My husband returned to Italy in Jan. 2009 (when we submitted paperwork) and came back to Puerto Rico in March....we got the interview letter when he was here in April or so......He went back to Italy, got interviewed in Naples and got his fiancee visa. He returned to PR in July, we married in September and submitted the rest of the documents...got 2 RFEs (which are a pain), sent everything on December 16 and on Feb. 16, 2010 we got notice that the case was transferred to California but with the good news that his Work Permit was on its way.

Just be patient. It is a hard, exhausting process, and you still have a long way to go. Interview, marrying, submit new documentation. Just make sure you qualify as a sponsor (check poverty guidelines for this). If they take long in replying, be thankful. Most cases are stopped for RFEs immediately after they receive them.

The best of luck!

Velmarie and Stefano Megha

You're most welcome. This discovery is actually something I was longing since the opening of the new USCIS page; I don't even remember how the language switch eventually occurred to me, but it worked out fine (and that's the most important part for sure ).

Take care you all,

Stefano

I stand corrected. I actually fixed the problem by myself, changing the site's language to Spanish. Now it properly works with both languages; I just signed out after I successfully added my two new cases to the old portfolio. Hope it helps anyone experiencing the same problem.

Greetings,

Stefano

Me... and it's been a while since it's not working. Can't access the portfolio at all, nor add my new cases to the account.

GOT THE VISA!

CONGRATULAZIONI, vr!

I am so very happy for you guys... Well done!

Now... who's next?

Hello Italians!

I am almost ready for my interview next week

I am not able to find my vaccination record, will I have some problems at Istituto Varelli if I go there without it?

I will bring the tax return of 2008 and the last paystub my fiance sent me is dated 06/06/2009. Do I have to ask him to fedex the latest asap?

Thank you!

Spero di essere stato d'aiuto!

Stai tranquilla e a presto.

Stefano

You have a new PM!

just got Packet 3 via email yesterday!

When the form asks "how long do you intend to stay in the US" would "permanent" be a good response?

Also, my friend's dad said he would give my fiance a job, but I think he would be paid under the table, should I list on the form that my fiance will be working for him? Or should I say that he wont be working at all?

just got Packet 3 via email yesterday!

When the form asks "how long do you intend to stay in the US" would "permanent" be a good response?

Also, my friend's dad said he would give my fiance a job, but I think he would be paid under the table, should I list on the form that my fiance will be working for him? Or should I say that he wont be working at all?

Hi N&N,

These seem like important questions that I would post on the main forum board. The traffic on this particular thread doesn't seem that active and I would hate for you not to get answers for your questions. They are not Italy-specific, so putting them to a wider audience would be helpful for you, I think.

Hey folks!

How about this? http://www.visajourney.com/examples/Form-DS-156.pdf

That's the way I filled the DS-156, and there was nothing wrong with it. Although I wouldn't bother that much, as the people that are gonna attend you are not likely to trouble themselves looking at that whole bunch of paper.

Hi there Stefano! Thanks for the additional info, and yes, you definitely have to keep us updated in the Naples Consulate group. Maybe after we all get through the interview I'll make a continuation group, "Naples Consulate and Beyond!" so we can share AOS info, etc.

Good luck with the Social Security stuff. When's the wedding planned for? And, the honeymoon?

Hey vespa rossa!

Well, I entered VJ today to update our timeline, as we've finally decided the place where our wedding is going to be, which is the Caribe Hilton, San Juan. So, yes, we have a date!!! September 5!!!!!!!! Wooooohoooooooooo

The honeymoon won't be such, for now, as my soon-to-be bride has no vacations from work. She got the Monday off, though, so we will settle for the "long" weekend there. Fine with me, I surely cannot complain...

I am definitely looking forward to see the "Beyond" thread... Take care you guys, hasta luego!!!

Stefano

Hello everybody! Welcome, naima&negrito!

The only things I would add to what vespa rossa said are that at the Consulate, I have only been asked, as financial documentation, for the I-134 and for the last year's tax returns (but I did have with me all of the papers listed in the Packet 3). Also, I haven't been asked for any form or paper of the I-129F; on the contrary, I had the satisfaction of seeing the consular officers handling the original petition (as they had it) where I could cearly see the big "APPROVED" stamp on it. B) Btw, they were adding all the papers they were asking me to the I-129F, creating a unique folder that ended up in the "sealed" envelope, with the latter being eventually opened by the CBP at my POE (Philly).

Moreover, I never received any hard copy of the "dichoso" Packet 3. As I previoulsy said somewhere here, not a single sheet from the Consulate nor the USCIS ever reached my home.

I just spent like an hour on the telephone talking to the SSA (sort of mission impossible to reach an operator). The guy I spoke with was awesome, though, he even explained me in incredibly GREAT detail how to get to the local office... was he puerto rican? I guess I'll be going tomorrow EARLY, as he told me that one needs to get there before the opening hour in order to get the queue number, as only people with a number will be attended.

Said that, I can only add that I am so very HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY!!! I will keep you posted about my next steps into my bureacratic journey... In the meantime, as always, take care and good luck to all of you.

Stefano

Congratulations Vespa! Good to know that you're moving forward with the bureaucracy and getting closer to the day of your reunion. Well done! You'll see that everything is going to be alright!!!

Strega, with regards to your questions I can tell you that there is no visa fee, except for those 6 € your fiancé is going to pay the day he will pick up his passport at the Mail Boxes Etc. in the afternoon, which I mentioned you in my previous post. I am not aware of any other charge and I didn't pay anything else. About the certificates, I wouldn't like to give you any wrong suggestion, so all I can tell you is to directly ask to the Consulate for these matters; I didn't have any Certificato di Residenza with me, and I think it won't be requested at all. But as I am not an officer or diplomatic employee of the U.S., I recommend you to keep inquiring to their e-mail address. Haven't you had any luck with them? I have always received replies, concise but thorough.

I haven't been active on the forum lately as I was very busy with the arrangements for my finally definitive departure towards Puerto Rico, U.S. I safely arrived here on Thursday evening after 21 hours of travel and two stops. Everything's great and we're sort of going crazy to set up a beautiful but simple wedding for the day of our anniversary.

Good luck to all of you with your journeys, we are so happy to be tying the knot soon that we cannot even believe it... After all the sacrifices and sufferings from being apart, at last we can enjoy our well-deserved satisfaction. You'll all get here, so don't worry, just hang in there and always keep your faith alive.

Hasta luego, gente!

Stefano

ciao, did stefano tell us how much the total cost to do the medical and interview? i heard that they have charges other than the 131.00 euro ,,,if stef comes back here, please ask him a break down of all the costs when you go to the interview and also medical.......it sounded to me in another forum, they were saying almost 1000.00 total........how about Italy???? ok thank you for any help.....ciao

PS: also do you need police certificates for everywhere you lived for 6 months since 16 and someone said you need 2 from each place.state and something else.....uufffaaaaaaaa ,, hope you share what they asked for when you got there..thanks

Ciao Strega,

I'll try to answer you about the total costs of the medical/interview combo. The medical examination costed me 205 €; the basic price of the exams is supposed to be 180, but unfortunately they had to make me a boost of antitetanus, as my last one was older than 10 years old. The interview fee is 131 $ that have to be paid at any BNL branch; the day I went to accomplish with that, I spent almost 100 €... Then I could mention you the expenses to obtain the certificates; as my fiancée said in her only post here, I relied on an agency for both my police and birth certificate. I did that in order to have everything in my hands as soon as possible, as the Comune di Roma would have taken up to 40 days to give me my "Estratto di Nascita". The agency charged me 100 €, but at least I had everything in 15 days and I could schedule my interview for the 30th of June and successfully attend it. [if the Municipality of your fiancés is not a big city, they're not supposed to respond with crazy long waits for a BC, contrarely to my experience]. I would say that this is all; the stay in Napoli is cheap, trust me; one can find great accommodations for good prices. Same for the food, you're gonna eat the best pizza you will ever have in your life for ridiculous sums.

Oh, and when you go and pick up your passport with the "sealed" envelope at the MBE office at 5 PM, they charge you 6 € to sign a paper (always if you can stay in town and do it personally; otherwise you'll have it shipped to your address for an extra fee).

Police certificates, I cannot tell you, as I've always been living here and I needed the only Casellario Generale. The documents they asked me before being interviewed by the Vice Consul were: DS-230 Part I & II; DS-156 (2 copies); DS-156K; Passport photographs; My Birth Certificate; My Police Certificate; My fiancée's Divorce Sentence; Letter of intents from my fiancée; Affidavit of support I-134; Tax returns from last year. Lots of fingerprints, required signatures, a friendly chat with the Vice Consul and you'll be done with everything.

Let me know if you may have any other questions. Hope this helps.

A presto!

Stefano

Best of luck to everybody. May all of you have your Visa printed soon as I had mine two days ago.

Grazie, grazie e ancora grazie a tutti per i bellissimi Auguri!

Non posso fare altro che ricambiarli a tutti Voi, wishing you to have the most quick and smooth process. I spent the whole day on Skype talking to my sweetheart about the date of my comeback... She wants me there ASAP, as in fact we have to go and check the place for the wedding, as well as set and prepare all the little, necessary details. We're gonna do something small, but it must "quedar bien lindo y bonito", of course!!! Sooo... I shouldn't be too far from packing my bags. Needless to say, we can't wait to be in each other's arms again...

Take care everybody and best of luck for your journeys! God bless you all.

CIAO!!!

Stefano

Btw, I forgot to say that these two days the weather has been amazing, which represented such an extra benefit for our beautiful stay. I really couldn't be more satisfied!

Grazie a te per le felicitazioni, Vespa Rossa, e complimenti per il tuo italiano.

Of course, if you have any question or doubt you want to be clarified, don't hesitate in asking me. Thank you for the support you've been providing us during the latter period.

Take care e a presto!!!

Stefano

Hello everybody!

I'm just back from Napoli... EXHAUSTED from two very full and busy days. But at the same time, HAPPY, HAPPY HAPPY!!! There's no real need to spend too many words in saying that everything was a piece of cake. Period. The only advice I would give to anybody is to enjoy the city and its culinary delights. I went with my brother, that kindly accompanied me, and we had such a great time by walking around, having fun and eating delicacies. Forget the terror stories you read around the board; all the people down there are very cool, nice, and helpful. I finally have the K-1 printed in my passport... me and my love are now thinking of the date for my forthcoming comeback, while the marriage date is practically set and certain since a long time.

Hope everything is fine with you, and I wish you the best. You'll all be fine, don't worry! B)

Talk to you later. Ciaaaaao!!!

Stefano

You're oh so welcome, Vespa Rossa!

A presto!

Strega - Same things as on the consulate site.

Stefano - Thanks so much for your reply! We'll worry about translation here, then. And perhaps I'll have him call and ask if there's a vacancy at the end of July or early August, after he faxes in the forms. How long did you wait between faxing them in and calling?

I didn't realize they were so accommodating. As he can't come here permanently until October, it's okay to delay, I was just worried they'd give him a date in November! So, you really did have to pay that ridiculous fee, huh? I was hoping there was some way around it. That's just ridiculous! As you said, theft!

I remember reading on one of the Naples reviews that you didn't need the appointment letter, as they'll have you on the list that morning at the consulate, but, I'm sure the lady that we've been emailing can answer you quickly about that.

We're getting close!

As I wrote in my "introduction" post here, I sent the DS-230 Part I via fax on June the 1st. On the 3rd Velma received an e-mail from Naples saying that I could have called the toll number to schedule my dates since the following week (quite impressive, uh?). I guess that if the 2nd was not a holiday (Italian Republic foundation - Festa della Repubblica), she would have received that directly the day after. I exactly waited for 7 days to call on June the 10th, setting for the dates you all know. I told you, you'll be impressed at how fast the things start running after the USCIS approves you!

Thanks for the info about the appointment letter, and you know what? I think you're just right... I wrote to the Consulate for the third time, and like the last inquiry, I received my answer one hour later. All she wrote me was the reaffirmation of the fact that I scheduled my interview via call center, and that my dates for medicals and interview are on the 29th and 30th. No mention to possible appointment letters on their way, that was it; now I guess that no paper from there was ever addressed to my home.

Oh, and your fiancé shouldn't have any problem in setting for the dates he wants; on the contrary, since the day he is going to move for good is still "quite" far, the schedule process is likely to be easy and absolutely fast. Consider also that once the Visa is approved, he has 6 months to enter the U.S., so, if he hypothetically has his interview in July, it should be ok for you!

Talk to you later guys, take care and keep me posted!

Ciao!

Stefano

I-129F sent on January, the 24th 2009. Entered for the second time in Philadelphia, U.S. on March, the 9th 2009. Interviewed. Not a single question, nor reference about the pending USCIS petition. Just tell him to be straight honest with the CBP. The first question he is likely to hear from the officer is: what are you going to do in the U.S.? If he declares you're going to see each other, there should be no problem.

Hope it helps. Saluti!

Stefano

Hi Strega!

Honestly don't know if the Congedo Illimitato is enough for them; I haven't had to collect these certificates as I haven't served in the Army. Maybe someone here may tell you something more about it. My advice, however, is to keep on directly contact them, even though you can check at the Department of State's website; under the Military Records section, they apparently seem to ask for the Foglio Matricolare. http://travel.state.gov/visa/frvi/reciproc..._3589.html#docs

Hope it helps. Ciao!

Stefano

Woohoo! Received Packet 3 via email this morning. Hopefully my fiance' will be able to fax DS-230 and Applicant's Statement this evening so we can get our interview scheduled ASAP.

Stefano--do you think it's less expensive to have the birth certificate translated to English in Italy, instead of here in NYC? (Thinking ahead to AOS).

AHHH! Just about a week until your interview!!!

Stefano, another question for you, it seems you called for the interview on June 10th, right? And they scheduled it for the end of this month? Or, did I misunderstand? My fiance and I are trying to decide if he should fax the DS-230/Applicant's Statement now or wait until he has all the documents (will take another 2 weeks or so to gather them).

What do you think? I was under the impression they schedule them for 2 months or so out, but it seems like you may have scheduled yours for just a few weeks after.

THANKS!!!

Hello Vespa Rossa!

Sorry for the delay in replying, but, as you may imagine, these last days I'm getting sort of crazy in trying to properly set up the last details, so I just haven't been checking the board. About the Birth Certificate, I can't really tell you, 'cause actually, the only translation we needed was Velma's Divorce Sentence; besides, she made that by herself (as she's been working as a translator for many years). All we've needed to do was going to notarize it; she added a statement of being a competent translator and that the translation was exact and complete. The notary just signed everything and put his stamp; she had to sign her declaration as well... In the end the total cost was of 25 $. Thank goodness, not that bad! I just told you this because, in my opinion, it should be cheaper to have it done there. [i really don't want to know how much a notary here could ask me for such a thing, honestly! ]

About the appointment, yes, I called on the 10th! Tell your fiancé that I just asked to the phone operator if they had "vacancy" for this month; he immediately told me that they could have scheduled me for the 24th if I wanted!!! I didn't accept just because at the time I was still waiting for my Birth and Police certificates to be ready, and I wanted to have some extra days "just in case", you know. So, he should experience no problems at all, the operator I spoke to was very kind and helpful; the only pain is the price of the call, 15 € as a flat rate to a National number or 1,50 €/min if he will call the 899 number. That sure is a theft, but what can we do?

By the way, my only concern now is the appointment letter which I still haven't received; I read somewhere that not having it with you may delay the interview, which is the last thing in the world that I want to happen. I guess I'll be writing right now to the woman at the Consulate that is following our case. Moreover, yesterday I reserved my accommodation in Naples for the night of the 29th; the place is cheap, neat and the owners offer lots of services; the only "problem" is that there was no vacancy for the apartments next to the Consulate, so I had to choose one from the other building, a little bit further. Anyway, I will be going by car, so the distance is not that big deal.

Hope I've been helpful. Take care and good luck to all of you!

A presto!

Stefano

Hello everybody!!!

VR: Alright! Very good, getting ready in advance it's the best thing you could do, and you're not missing much stuff from the list. That's great! Btw, thanks for reminding me to print my new credit card statements with regards to my second trip to PR, need to attach them with the first ones... And, yes! My days are getting close, right now I'm 8 days from medicals and 9 from the interview. OMG! If I start thinking about it, I just freak out... If everything will be fine I think I'm going to reserve my plane seats for the first days of August; this time I should be paying just the airport taxes and fees thanks to the miles I accumulated with the last travels.

Strega: Uhm, writing to the Consulate I used Italian and I had no problems; it didn't even occur to me to write them in English... Oh, what a coincidence! Just yesterday I was checking the AOS guides here in VJ and I saw that the translated document they're going to need is the Birth Certificate, that should be it. If you wanna have a look by yourself, just check it out here. http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...mp;page=k1k3aos

Well, talk to you later, guys. Best wishes to everybody, take care!

Stefano

Any news for you guys? I officially ended up my "papers' chase", and since yesterday I started my collection of them in two neat and tidy binders... Far from being done with it, 'cause I need to gather all the evidence things and catalog them (and THAT is the BIG part); nerves challenging operation for me, but the result is surely satisfactory.

Well, how are you all doing? So curious to hear from you!

Buonanotte a tutti!

Stefano