datamon

Your first post stated your wife had this done before she left and you did not know there was a 3 month delay? At any rate, your option to get the K2 is gone if that is the case. Are they the ones delaying it until November, or you? If it is because of you, I would say, get the kid in there sooner no matter what it takes. My guess is that it is them and you didn't allow enough time for the processing of the visa.

I would go through with the DNA test as scheduled as you will need it for the CR-2 as well. File the I-130 as soon as possible. Today if possible. You do not need the DNA test to file the petition.

My wife did not require a DNA test for her K1 visa. My wife and daughter need to prove their relationship for my step-daughter's K2 visa, that is why a DNA test is needed now. And yes, it is the embassy delaying the blood sample appointment until November. My wife has already had hers done here in the US. The US lab is awaiting the blood sample from her daughter to be sent back here from Lagos for the actual testing.

We started communicating with Lagos on June 3, approximately 6 months prior to the K1 expiring. It seems unreasonable to make someone wait 3 months just to give 8 drops of blood. Wish we had further recourse. An email to them requesting moving the date up has not been answered.

Is it possible to get some independent laboratory to do this faster? Would it be acceptable?

Thank you for the information.

The DNA test is being done at an independent lab (the lab must meet a certain type of accreditation). The embassy, evidently, requires the foreign person to appear in-person for the blood sample to be taken, and that is where the 3 month delay is.

K2 Visa and 1 Year Time Limit from K1 Issue Date

My wife had her K1 visa issued on 11/25/2009. We are now married and have been trying to get her minor child from Nigeria to join us. The child was marked as "follow to join". We started the K2 process on 6/3/2010, but due to several delays with the embassy, it is still an on-going issue.

The latest is that they want DNA tests to confirm my wife's relationship with her daughter. My wife had her sample taken several days after being notified and a sample kit was sent to Lagos where my step-daughter will get her sample taken. However, they have scheduled her to come and give her sample on 11/24/2010, approximately 12 weeks after they received the sample kit. After the sample is given, it will be sent back to the US for the comparison test and then the results get sent back to Lagos. From there, I assume an additional interview will be needed.

So, this process, even though it was started about 6 months after the K1 visa was issued, will not be complete within the 12 month limit. It may extend to 13, 14, or even 15 months.

Any suggestions? We have contacted the embassy to try to get the blood sample date moved up, but have not received any response.

Hello All --

My wife had her K1 visa processed and approved in Dakar. She arrived in the US in December 2009 and we were married in March 210010 here in the US. That part of the Visa Journey was very smooth.

We now want to begin the process of getting her daughter (age 8) to come to the US. Her daughter was marked as "join to follow" on the K1 paperwork , but her daughter is living in Nigeria. We have contacted both Dakar and Lagos to get information on how to proceed, but Lagos is telling us that her daughter needs to be interviewed in Dakar. I told them that doing so creates some hardships and it will be much easier to have the interview in Lagos. They indicated that processing can be done at another embassy, but only if that other embassy agrees (and it sounds to me that Lagos is not agreeing).

Any advice on what to do to get the interview in Lagos for my step-daughter?

My fiance (living in Gambia) had her interview today in Dakar. Interviewer asked just a few questions, wanted to see her original birth certificate and affidavit of support and then granted visa. Said to come back next Tuesday to pick it up.

So it will be a total of 3 Banjul to Dakar road trips for her (medical, interview, pickup visa) which is kind of a pain, but we are so happy that we will be together for Christmas.

K1 Visa Granted!

My fiance had her interview today in Dakar. Interviewer asked just a few questions, wanted to see her birth certificate and granted visa. Said to come back next Tuesday to pick it up.

Although our medical took around 2-3 weeks to complete, I think it depends on when your embassy interview is scheduled. The doctor will, I believe, do everything he can to get you in before the interview. As soon as we had the interview scheduled, everything went really smoothly. Don't sit around waiting for them to complete the medical before the interview is scheduled. It won't happen. One morning will be dedicated to chest x-rays and blood work (be sure to get an early start as the offices will close from noon to 3:00). One former VJ reviewer said that they were able to complete the medical in one day, but it took them 24 hours to complete the blood results, so things may have changed/become busier. I would count on it taking at least a week, but as I said earlier, ours took 2-3 weeks to complete.

So she will probably have to make 2 trips to Dakar, correct?

Trip 1:

request police certificate (just 1 region...Dakar)

take medical exams

Trip 2:

pickup police certificate

pickup medical exam results

interview at consulate

Sounds like both trips could be for 2 days or so.

BTW, attaya_girl, love the pics you have posted of you and your fiance.

A few days ago our I-129F was approved and I am now researching the next steps. My fiance lives in Gambia and has previously lived in Nigeria and Senegal. It looks like she will have to go to Dakar for her interview since Gambia does not process K1 visas.

Here are a few questions:

1. She will be traveling to Nigeria soon, so getting the police report from Nigeria (and Gambia) is no problem. However, what about Senegal? I found this:

   Foreigners can obtain a police record, (Extrait de Casier Judiciaire Special), from the Greffier de la Cour D'Appel Du Tribunal Departemental de Dakar, Bloc Des Madeleine, Avenue Andre Peytavin, Dakar, Senegal. The same fee of CFA 380 is collected for the service. Foreigners need to include a form of photo ID and the names of their parents with the request for the police report. It takes two days to one week to process this request. For foreigners in Senegal, they can pay the fee directly at the court. For former residents currently living outside of Senegal who are requesting the police report from abroad, the fee must be paid by bank draft.

   Has anyone sent for the Police Report from Senegal? How long did it take?

2. Can the medical exam be done in Gambia or must that be done in Senegal also?

3. If the medical must be done in Senegal, can it be done the same day as the interview, or should she plan on at least staying overnight in Dakar?

This forum is great and I am certain that the knowledge here will help minimize any surprises that may come our way.