riz

OMARK & MumtazG,

I am assuming you guys will have some extra baggage with you when you move from Pakistan to USA for good. What would be the best and economical way to get that extra baggage to USA? I am planning to pay some extra $$ to airline for excessive baggage and take it with me. I might be having 2 30kg (70 Ibs) each of extra suitcases.

hello all, my parents had CR-5 (immigration) interviw on August, 28th 2009. My mom got visa on spot whereas my dad was put on AP. We received call yesterday (November 12, 2009) in Pakistan from Islamabad# and no one was home. So, I called DOS and they told us yes the call was to ask for passport.

Questions: Do we just mail the passport or we have to wait for some letter from ISL or some information. How do we send the passport back and with what information. Any information will be much appreciated.

And faisal, it seems your turn is about to come soon too.

Thanks to call for contributing to this forum - very helpful. I got a lot of good pointers from here.

I am not 100% sure but passport has to go via AmEx. Just give your father passport to AmEx and they suppose to give you a receipt, which you needed later to get back passport from AmEx. Make sure to mentioned your father case number.

just curious......will we still be receiving a call from the embassy when our case is done even if they had taken the passport at interview? it just seems that people only get calls when they are required to send in their passports....was wondering whether we would still get a call from the embassy twice...once letting us know visa is ready and lastly telling us to pick it up? or will we not get any such call and have to call the embassy ourselves hoping upon every hope that someone nice picks up and lets us know?

Going by the info on our spreadsheet I'm getting the feeling that the call to submit passport comes round-about a month from the interview and the day to pick up the passport comes 15-25 days after that....looking at the most recent (given) info about CR1's or IR1's in particular, that is...for example the people before Taj's (Kami and mzj). Although what puzzles me is Taj's case (which is the one right before ours) in which it has been 1 month and 18 days so far and no call...although they did take the passport at interview....so I get tempted to assume that in the next week or two (going by the recent spreadsheet info) she should be getting a call....what do you guys think???

If you are in Islamabad, you get call from AmEx to pickup your passport with visa documents. I am not sure how does it work in other cities where they do not have AmEx.

ok well i just talked to my husband and he says he got today his original documents back from the embassy - would this be the "letter" the DOS was talking about ? could this mean they are finished with the AP and dont need them anymore ? please someone shed some light ! i'm tired of the rollercoaster - i want my husband here like yesterday sorry for ranting - i know there are so many of us going through this right now. Salaams to all of u.

Normally you get original documents back at the end of visa interview (same day). My wife got all the original documents back after her IR-1 visa interview by the CO. Her IR-1 visa interview was successful and visa was approved without AP/AR. She got IR-1 visa on her passport in couple of days.

Hi friends ,

I had my interview Yesterday and i was interview by 3 Visa officers almost for 5 hours.I took these things with me ( CHATTING 500 PAGES , EMAILS & LETTERS 150 PAGES , COURIER & RECEIPTS , PHONE BILLS DEC 08 - NOV 09 , PHOTOS 106 . CARDS 85 , 3 SHIRTS WHICH MY WIFE GAVE ME , INCOME TEX 3 YEARS , MY WIFE PASSPORT COPY WITH MY NAME , HER SSN NUMBER WITH MY NAME , HER DL WITH MY NAME HER HOME PHONE BILL WITH MY NAME & INSURANCE'S CARD & HOTELS REC PITS & WEDDING BAND & I.E)

In my personal opinion you took over whelming items to support bona fide marriage, this might irritate visa officers.

My wife in the U.S. is about to file the K3 for me until she heard that there's not much difference in processing time with IR1. Can anyone share us their thoughts, perhaps actual experiences in this issue. Hoping to get feedback from you soonest as my wife and I will be deciding next week.

Thank you very much and regards to all..

My wife's IR-1 visa done in about 10 months from start (i.e from the day I file I-130) till the date my wife get IR-1 visa.

Good thing is that we do not to deal with NVC/USIC till her USA citizenship application, which would be in next 3 years.

I strongly advice you to go for IR-1.

The person petitioning MUST submit an I-864. So, the older brother MUST submit an I-864 or there will be no immigration visas. The other brother can be a JOINT SPONSOR and submit a second I-864. This brother is NOT a petitioner; he is only a Joint Sponsor for the Affidavit of Support.

Yes, the elder brother has to submit the I-864. The petitioner (the elder brother) suppose to submit the I-864, younger brother can be a joint sponsor.

Sorry I got confused with elder and younger brother and petitioner, my bad.

Yes should be okay to travel with I-551 stamp. Just make sure the expiry date on I-551 stamp.

If you are going back to India for less then six months and coming back before that then you should be okay no problem.

You can re-submit the I-864 again with new sponsor no issue with it.

Normally pregnant women are waived from vaccinations and X-Rays. Your wife should be okay, do not worry about vaccination records.

Were you wife/hubby stamped with I-55 (temporary Green Card, which is valid for 1 year) at POE?

Thanks

i was born in pakistan. i m a us citizen. i want to sponser my mom. i don,t have birth certificate, neither my mom. how i can prove . i have read the i-130 instructions. i can submit affadavit. does any one has any sample? please e mail me. i will really appreciate it. thanks in advance

You need two affidavit of birth one from your father and one from your mother.

Here is the sample: (Also see the attached file)

AFFIDAVIT OF BIRTH

[ON RUPEE NOTE PAPER IF RESIDE IN INDIA]

I [your father’s full name], being duly sworn, hereby affirm and state:

1. I reside at [your father’s complete address]

2. I was born in [your father’s birth city/town, state/province and country] on [your father’s birth date], and I am the father of [your full name].

3. I am married to [your mother’s complete name]. We have been married since [marriage date].

4. [your full name] was born on [your birth date], to me and my spouse, [your mother’s name]. [your full name] was born in [your birth city/town, state/province and country].

5. I was present when my spouse gave birth to [your full name] and I am giving this sworn statement because no birth certificate/record exists for my [daughter] following several unsuccessful attempts by my wife and myself at locating a document for our child

____________________________________________ _________________

[your father’s full name] [date]

Sworn before me this

day of ,

Signature

[Type Name]

[Official Title]

Affidavit_of_Birth.doc

Guys, something I forgot to ask you. The original Peshawar PCC that Ali submitted will be expired sometime next month. The CO officer didnt tell him he needed another one until Ali said something. Ali offered her a new PCC, but it was the wrong kind (ruppee paper). So she said he will just have to send in a new Peshawar PCC but she didnt say when. Do you think they wont start his AP til he sends the PCC? It's just weird cuz she didnt say anything abt it til he did so what I'm thinking is they will just ask for it before they print the visa? What if we send it now, will it find its way to his file or do u think it will get lost or something?? Thoughts?

My parents case was in AP for about 3 years and before issuing visa (in August 2009) ISB embassy called my parents and asked for new PCC but only from the current place of their resident. Once my parents submitted new PCC ISB embassy issued them visa within 10 working days.

So, I think wait for the PCC until you get call from them. But if you can easily get PCC from Peshawar then submit one now and get another PCC.

Congrats Riz,,, Is this the first time ur wife n kids will be in america? Are they excited?

Thanks!

Yes they will be first time in USA. Kids are too small to feel any excitement. Wife is some what excited but for me it is mixed feeling. I am little bit worried about getting new job in USA during these tough time, but I am confident I will find a good job in a couple of months. Good thing is that my whole extended family is already in USA.

Well, an other good news, ISB embassy working in full swing. My wife had successful IR-1 visa interview on Oct 20, 2009 and I got a call from AmEx to collect her passport with visa. Is it not so great? Within 2 working days they have printed the visa and AmEx delivered to us. WooooooooooooW!

Now, I have to decide when to quit my current job, wrap up every thing here and move back to USA. I have time till April 19th, 2010.

Congrats Riz. I am glad for you and your family. I hope we are as lucky to get a nice CO like yours. I have read some stories and not looking forward to it. Where in USA is your family headed to? Take care and wish us luck as well, our date is 26th.

Thanks!

I used to lived in Chicago, IL and still love that city. Now, I am open to any place where I get Telecom/software development job. Most likely I will be in mid west, but you never know where life takes you.

Yes, you can scanned and email her visa interview letter. Once she get the scanned letter from you, she can setup a medical appointment. Try to keep the interview date as it is. Medical can be done in 2 hours and reports are available next day. So your wife should be okay. Scanned copy of letter are just fine. In case if someone asked, she can explain the whole story. I am sure she will be okay.

My wife had an IR-1 visa interview on Oct 20th, 2009. I have been living in Pakistan with my wife and kid since 2006. CO asked me about USA Domicile questions. They just want to make sure that you are serious enough to move back to USA with your spouse and you have taken some solid steps in this regard.

To prove a valid USA domicile you need to have some of the item like USA bank account, it would be good if you have USA address used for that bank account , USA physical mailing address (mine was my sister USA address which is just fine no issue with it), 401K account, stocks trading account, USA saving account, USA driving license, voter registration and taxes.

CO asked me what I have done to show I would move back to USA, I told her I am searching for jobs & looking for house online. My kids already have USA passport and only waiting for my wife IR-1 visa.

To me you should be okay to prove USA domicile requirements.

I hope this would help.

congrats

i've a question regarding DS3032. On the email, did you put the American address as the one to send all the further paperworks?

I've applied for an immigrant visa for my husband in India. I did the AOS billing and am supposed to send the DS-3032. I'm confused if i should my address (in America) or his address in India.

Thanks for your help...

On DS3032 I have used my USA mailing address, which is actually my sister home address.

Thanks to all!

Riz, you had to be the ppl in front of us... you were with ur wife n two kids? They called my husband, we didnt hear it n u told him where to go?? Anyways, congrats on the visa.

Yes, that was me. I recognized you guys from your profile pictures.

I think by default all Pakistani male are going through AP, but good thing is that time frame is within 3 months. Few years back it was pretty bad and people had to wait 9 months to several years to get through AP.

I think the same CO (middle aged lady) on window 3 took your hubby & my wife's interview, right?

If your finance knows any body in Rawalpindi, then it can be done quickly. I am feeling if you go through Pak Embassy it might take longer.

In Islamabad, it was straight forward to obtain PCC. Get a form from your area police station, fill it, get it certified, get it check from security branch at sector F8, then turn it in to local police station. Local police station get the address verification by sending police constable or ASI to your home address. Collect the form back from local police station and submitted it to sector F8 security branch. You will get the PCC next day. It sound difficult but can be done in 4 days.

I am not sure how dose it work in Rawalpindi.

Hello Friends,

Does anyone have experience for Parents Interview in islamabad, I am USC and applied for my parents, NVC have schedule visa interview on 11/18/09 at 8AM.

My father is 63Years and my mother is 56Years, please share your exerience of interview for this kind of case.

thanks

I had pretty bad experienced with my parents visa interview 4 years ago at ISB embassy. My father had to go through AP for 3 1/2 years for no reason. I had to filed a case against ISB embassy, NVC, USCIS, homeland security etc to get the case moving forward and finally we got it done successful.

Recently I had pretty good experience with ISB embassy for my wife IR-1 visa interview. Things are not that bad and you might encounter AP for you father but these days it is taking around 6 weeks to 3 months time frame for AP.

Good luck!

City to city it is little different procedure to obtain PCC. I have got PCC for my wife from Karachi & Islamabad. Please let me know which city he used to lived in. Also, to obtain PCC for a person who do not lived in Pakistan, for that you need to contact local Pakistan embassy/consulate they might guide/help you.

My wife had IR-1 visa interview this morning and it got approved without AP/AR.

Here are some details:

My wife, two kids and my self were at the diplomatic shuttle transport service center (DSTS) around 7:00am. We took the token number for issuing shuttle tickets and waited in the waiting room for about 30 min or so. We bought the bus tickets for PK RS 500 each and proceeded to the shuttle after our number had been called.

We were in the embassy around 8:00am after security checks.

I went with my wife for the interview but did not go with her to the interview window as I was taking care of my two kids in the waiting room. Also I have seen in many cases CO have asked petitioner to wait in the waiting room and not be with their spouses during interview process.

First, my wife gone through finger printing process, then turn in her passport to another window, third time they called my wife's name for medical reports and finally fourth time they called my wife for interview. CO was a middle aged lady. She turned out to be friendly and nice.

We organized all of the documents that we could think of but not a single document were asked. I also got the new Islamabad Police character certificate (PCC) as we got REF from NVC to bring new PCC on interview. Again, except medical reports not a single extra document has been asked during the interview.

As, I have been in Pakistan since 2006 with my wife and kids so I was prepared for questions regarding my USA domicile and during interview CO asked my wife if I could come to the interview window and answered few questions regarding this. which I gladly did.

CO's main concern were about our intention to move back to USA and she wanted to make sure that we are 100% positive to moving back to USA. Once I cleared that to CO, she congratulated to my wife and said you can collect your passport from American Express in Islamabad with in one to two week time frame. She gave us American Express token number for collecting my wife passport. No blue, yellow or any other form is given which mentioned AP/AR.

I am glad it went pretty well.

Thanks for all those people who answered my queries here on VJ.