Joe+Andrea

Congrats to all the approvals! Andrea was approved in Bogota in Tuesday, March 9th. I went down there because it had been 7 months since we saw each other. I didn't really need to be at the interview, and for anyone on the fence about whether to go or not, I'd say don't worry about it if you're not there, as long as your have all your papers straight. Her interview was a piece of cake, very casual. The interviewer thanked her for making it so easy for him. He never even asked to talk with me or see additional proofs. He said it was good she was honest on her denied tourist applications by saying she was coming to see me. If anything, those helped her because it helps establish the relationship. Hervisa was delivered to her house yesterday! To everyone with upcoming appointments, don't worry, but don't slack on having your papers in order. good luck!

Congrats to everyone approved lately! Sorry I've been away from the thread, but since Vicky's been here it's been a bit of a whirlwind.

We're already married! 2-14-10 in Las Vegas.

Married already? Wow! Congrats!

I am leaving to Colombia in 2 weeks for Andrea's interview on the 8th. We haven't been together since August and she probably won't come for a few months, so we're due for a visit anyway. It's great to hear the reports of easy interviews and we're hoping for the same. The paperwork has been a nightmare, though, as we did all the pdf forms, then she went to pay at the bank and they said it had to be done on an online electronic version (not pdf)--of course, the embassy website says nothing about this Anyways, it's done. Good luck to all the upcoming interviews, and GIVE US DETAILS!

We got our interview date FINALLY! March 9 in Bogota. I bought my ticket today to leave Mar 6, only 3 weeks away! I'll only be there three whole days, but at least Andrea and I can see each other; the last time was August.

Good luck for upcoming interviews and congrats to approvals!

So we got some good news Pam passed the interview last night!!!!

Way to go!

Our interview is in 2 days!!! Wish us luck!

2 days? Whoa! We're still waiting to get out date, which will probably be in March. Now I understand how it's hard to estimate how long this process takes since it depends so much on the service center and the embassy. Good luck!

We sent in our forms to the Bogota embassy yesterday saying we are ready to make the appt and got an auto reply today we can check the embassy website for the appointment schedule, and that it could be two or three months until the appointment, so we do not have a date yet. Wow, this is not what I was expecting, I though the appt might be a couple weeks out or so. Anyways, they never contacted Andrea after we received NOA 2 or told us what to do or anything. I see why many people pay lawyers, because I'm sure many people just wait and wait and nothing happens.

Anyways, I'm a bit frustrated now since we should have sent in these papers a month ago, although the papers affirm you are ready for the appointment, which we weren't. Is the process at each embassy different? It sounds like some people are calling to make appointments. We are told not to, and everything is automated.

So at this point I'm hoping to have the appt date in a week or two, probably for sometime in March. I'll be happy just having the date so I can buy my plane ticket and relax.

We never got a letter from them. Most people I have talked to said they didn't.

I never got one. We're just moving on to the next steps: gather documents, send in form saying we're ready, and they'll give us an interview date. Check the embassy's website.

One more thing: An RFE is not the end of the world or anything and shouldn't delay things too much. Put it this way, if getting the original signature will delay sending your application for a week or more, you're not risking much by scanning it. If you do get an RFE just have your fiance send the document directly to the service center from abroad.

thank you all VJ members again for the helpfull advice

Because of the cost of both money and time, I decided to risk it and send scanned signatures from my fiancee Andrea. Considering all the warnings I told her to do a high quality print and scan. What she sent me was a small, faint signature, so I had her re-do it and sign bigger with a thick pen/thin marker. She sent me back a much better signature, we sent them in, and it was approved. It may not work everytime, but may be worth the risk if your fiance has access to a good printer and scanner. Remember to then do a high quality print yourself.

I just saw this on the VJ homepage about a proposal to raise the K visa fee up to $350.

http://www.visajourney.com/news/2009/12/21...previously-131/

Hey everyone! I've been reading a lot about NOA2's but not much about the next steps leading up to the interview. If you haven't begun gathering the documents you need for the embassy, start now, because there are a lot. You should be able to download the list of the embassy's website.

Also, Andrea called to make the med appt a week ago (about Jan 8) and was told there are no more Jan appts and she had to call after Jan 15 for Feb appts. She called today and got one for Feb 1. Just be aware that it could be a long wait for appts.

Also, we just re-read the instructions the embassy has on the website and noticed that it says that interviews will be scheduled no less than 1 month in advance. I thought we could get one much sooner. It also says not to call for appts. Lesson is, look very carefully at all the information your embassy has online now, and get on things if you're trying to make this quick.

good luck to everyone and keep posting!

I would just chill and not expect approvals before the new year. CSC will be open, but many workers will take the week off, I'm guessing. I am a fed gov't contractor and most people burn vacation the last week of the year because it is "use it or lose it". Happy new year everyone!

congrats I have a feeling today is going to be the day that everyone is waiting on!!!!!!!!!!!

Congrats on the approval! Sometimes the notices get send out late at night.... maybe there will be some xmas eve surprises!

Congrats!

Hope they keep approving some more today before the holiday starts.

I feel like even after approval it just transferred from one wait to another wait, but at least there's a step or progress. Now it looks like my process may be delayed by a clerical error from the UAE on my fiancee's police clearance, and we may have to hold off scheduling our appointment even after we're eligible to do so. So, even though we're approved before you, you may get your interview and visa before us...

It will happen guys keep hanging in there, we're here cheering for you! We're all in this together.

No, the waiting game has certainly not ended, but it is a relief knowing they didn't send any RFE's... the first step is a major hurdle.

Approved!!!! Mine came in at 1am Saturday morning by email, saying it was approved on 12/18. Never got the text, even though I'm signed up. Sign up for both!

This is such a relief. A took a gamble by not taking VJ advice and didn't not have original signatures on it, because that would've delayed things. I had andrea sign with a heavy ink pen and use a high resolution scanner. It worked!

Anyone know what I should expect for the earliest interview date? About 6 weeks? 8 weeks?

Congrats to everyone else, and if you didn't received it and are still waiting, go directly to USCIS.gov and check.

Congrats to everyone who has received NOA2! I was signed up for an email alert but just added text message alert; sounds like a fun way to find out. I'm expecting it in about a week based on the dates of the current approvals.

Are people sending any paperwork (i.e. affidavit of support) before getting the approval? Any reason to?

where do i find this igors list?

I like this version personally ... Igor's List from Berkley

The other is here ... Igor's List VJ

Careful .. you might get addicted

What's the difference? Why do you like the Berkeley one better? I've always just used the VJ one.

Congrats to Sept filers NOA2 approvals and to those of us who are getting ready for the next step. It is so encouraging to finally see some progress. I'm getting a little bit anxious to get an interview date now. If it's in January, then I'll prob fly down there for the interview . If it's later, then we may put off the interview (if possible) for the end of March when Andrea graduates so I can go to the ceremony and interview. That would be nice, but then I don't see her until March, which would be 7 months apart!

Soooo. All these CSC sept approvals are popping up, and I just gave myself a heart attack over it. How? Well, I was reading one of the topics, and both my text message and email tone went off on my iPhone, one right after the other. I looked at my phone and was like "NO WAY FLSKDJFLSKDJF APPROVAL!?" and darted across my room, grabbed my phone....

The text was from AT&T telling me my bill is past due (whoops.) and the email was my App Store receipt from iTunes.

!!!!!!

Ohhhh that SUCKS! I don't have text messaging alerts so I dont have to worry about that. I figured email would suffice! Did you have a happy Thanksgiving?

Yeah, I did for the most part. I'm just happy that my trip to my grandparents was relatively drama free this year, lol.

So I went to Merle Hay this morning I had 2 stores to go to....Target and Old Navy...what a nightmare! I stood in line at Target for nearly 20 min for my ONE item! I never shop on Black Friday...that was a good reminder as to why I dont!

Wow. I'm glad I didn't have to go out in it. I didn't know if Old Navy was doing anything big or not. Did you at least get anything good out of it?

Well I bought a 6 piece luggage set for 34 bucks which I thought was pretty good. It's not samsonite or anything but I figured for $34 might as well get it! Old navy had fleece sweatshirt things on sale for 5 bucks. So I got one for each of the kids and one for each of my parents. I didn't have a huge list of things to get I just knew THAT stuff I wanted. It took me longer standing in line to pay than to actually get the stuff I needed. I think my daughter wants to go shopping tonight maybe by then all the hard core shoppers will be napping and we'll be able to go in and enjoy it. Doubtful but here's to dreamin!!

what does one do with a SIX piece luggage set?

Yes! Hope at last!

Hey jkminney I just saw that you live in des moines. i just drove through there from Minneapolis to Kansas. I'll be coming back through in a month or so... I think by then there will be something to celebrate

Hey Everyone,

I got my interview date today! 1/15/09 Bogota, Colombia!!!

Good luck everyone!

You have an interview date already??? Be sure to report back with Bogota info. My fiance Andrea will doing hers there if CSC ever gets it act together. Right now I'm thinking she won't get her interview until about Feb. 1

By the way, congrats! How did everything go so fast? It looks like your interview is a long ways away, though (Jan 15)... was that the earliest they had?

Hey Everyone,

I got my interview date today! 1/15/09 Bogota, Colombia!!!

Good luck everyone!

You have an interview date already??? Be sure to report back with Bogota info. My fiance Andrea will doing hers there if CSC ever gets it act together. Right now I'm thinking she won't get her interview until about Feb. 1

I've migrated over to the CSC sept thread, but I'll be checking in every once in a while. We got almost no movement last week either, still waiting for Aug NOA2's at CSC to finish up.

Good luck everyone, and remember that, if you did your research, we all started this process expecting this process is going to take about 5 months, and we're on track for that.

The medical fees in Colombia are like $150-- funny, because I went to the ER and was admitted to a private hospital for about 4 hours and paid the whole thing out of pocket for about $120, including all meds.

Here's some exciting news for me. I've picked out an engagement ring for Andrea when she comes. I don't think this will be a problem that she doesn't have a ring already or that I haven't officially proposed, considering the distance. It is our intention to get married. I mean, anybody can put on some ring before they go into the embassy for the interview, so they must not place importance on that.

It looks like I picked the wrong week (last week) to start checking Igor's list, what a bummer!