Derry Lea

Hi, all,

So I am applying for a green card for my mom. She has been divorced from my dad for the past 3 years. I'm planning on listing her married name which she is still using and to also list her maiden name n the names section. The issue is 17 years ago she changed her first name which she always hated. All of her documents including her birth certificate and passport are with her current name...In fact there is no memory or proof of the given name she was born with as even her birth certificate has her listed with the name she chose 17 years as her first name and her maiden name as last name....So my question is as there is no way to explain the name change or any proof of it is there any point of listing it in the forms? I am afraid they will see she has used a different name and require some sort of document where it has been used and there is none...

Please advise, thank you

Hi, everyone,

I used this site back when I was going through my K1 process. 8 years later I am a US citizen and am looking to apply for a green card for my mom. She has been coming on a tourist visa for the past couple of summers and is currently here. She is supposed to go back at the end of February but we have decided to apply for a green card this time. My question is since I am filing concurrently do I have the right list of documents - I-130, I-485, my birth certificate plus translation. my naturalization certificate, her birth certificate plus translation, checks for the filing fees. Also based on your experience how long does it take to adjust the status and get the green card? Thanks

I do have copy of the card's front and back. It was included in the package cI want to know if I will need the actual card for the interview. And the chances to get my new card ready by September when I plan to travel. I was expecting an RFE for insufficient evidence really. Thanks

So I can't seem to find my 2 year green card...I remember I took it out of my wallet after I got my DL because I didn't wanna lose it somewhere and now I just can't find it!!!Anyway I have biometrics scheduled for 2/15.I didn't expect it so quickly I onl got my NOA 1 last week!Does that mean I won't be receiving an RFE ?? According to the notice a driving license will be ok for the biometrics and they won't require a green card. My question is when should I expect to be scheduled for an interview and will my 2 year green card be required at the interview. Also how long after that should I receive my new card??? I'm asking because two of my friends never really got theirs several months after the interview. I understand you receive some sort of letter stating your green card is extended so you can travel with your expired one. I am planning to go see my parents in Bulgaria in September and I wanna make sure I will have a green card to travel with by then.

Hello,everyone, I was wondering if somebody has an answer for me. I filed my I-751 and received NOA 1 today. However I can't find my green card. I searched everywhere and am still looking. I was wondering if I would need it for the interview. I have it scanned on my computer,but the actual card is missing. Is it worth trying to get another one right at the finish line for the new one?

Thanks

I don't know....gosh...missing out on $2.79 might cause a stock market crash.....

Like I said try out being a comedian

I guess it depends what you view as a hardship. I think in that situation, the USC was referring to the fact that he can't be rejoined with his overseas family. The US family's kids had not met their grand-parents, something along those lines. I understand that it's basically down to the immigration officer to decide if that's a respectable hardship or a minor problem. But I know that all of us adjusting status are claiming this as a reason to apply for a travel document and it usually gets approved. Bulgaria is one of the few EU countries that can't travel to the US on a visa waiver, but this may also change soon! Then she can come and go as often as she wants. I understand that this is not something you can rely on and it may take some time.

Darry Lea, is your sister a student? If she is, she could apply for a internship visa and come work somewhere close to you for a month or two. I was at a waterpark yesterday and I chatted with some of the people working there, who were from Serbia and the Checz Republic and they told me it's a pretty easy ride. You experience the culture for a couple of weeks and you earn enough cash to travel around. I think they said it's a J visa?

It's called a J1 visa and I'm familiar with it. However she's not a student. We just wanted her to come here and stay with us for a month She wouldn't work, she doesn't even speak English. There have been talks that visitors visas in Bulgaria won't be required , but these talks have been around since we were accepted in the EU which was back in 2007. I wrote to the General Consul and the Congressman's office will send an email too so we'll see what happens. I was very hopeful when I heard of my friend's case, but I'm also realistic and know the chances of an overturn are less than slim. I guess we'll have to find the time off work and go visit my family in Bulgaria like we did last year. My sister and her fiance will get married hopefully sooner rather than later and then we'll see if that would make a difference.

Thank you for everything.

However knowledgeable Noah might be, I think he's simply rude. And all of us come to this forum in the hope of exchanging advice in a civilized manner, not judging and insulting each other. Honestly, I have seen much tougher situations on here - people whose USC husbands went to prison during AOS, people with criminal history and what not, and there are still people who reply their queries calmly. If you have a constructive idea, it's wonderful that you are willing to share it. But if all you're gonna do is write 30 lines justifying discrimination and making people feel bad about things they can't do anything about - like their birth place, I don't know who exactly you think you're benefitting. You're wasting your time and everybody else's. These girls are trying to get a legal permission to spend their money in the US, after all.

Unfortunately, I don't know a way to remedy the situation, other than trying again. I have heard of situations where the USC contacts the embassy with a complaint that the case has been rejected and stating that there is no fraud and that the rejection causes hardship on him and his family and things have worked out. But I don't remember details, you should search around and see if you can find this case in a forum. I'm sorry I can't help more, I just wanted to make you feel better, in case you were starting to think that everyone thinks like Noah.

I for my part, was also a young girl without any ties to my country when I got my tourist visa. Only, the country was in western Europe. It was a 5 minute interview and I got a 10 year visa right away. There is an element of discrimination, which cannot be denied.

Maybe she should save up her money for her wedding and come next summer or whenever she's married. I'm sorry you have to go through this.

Thank you for this. I could not have said it any better. When I posted the topic I was expecting a helpful advice, someone to share a story or give an idea. Instead what I got as true as they were were 10 replies from Noah stating my case means nothing and I should accept that. I got to the point when I didn't even care because I tried to explain so many times MY situation and my point of view and got shut down. In one of the replies I said now more than anything I just want to prove him wrong and even if nothing happened..oh well,you were right all along, stop shoving it in people's faces. And yes this is a forum for people to try and help other people and show support. I don't want somebody to tell me "Oh, it's gonna be fine, she's gonna get the visa" but I was not expecting to be told 100 times "You're a nobody and that's the way it should be."

And to Noah - Thank you for all the replies. Now I don't know if you're someone who actually cares about the cases and the people on this site and takes time to sit down and write down his opinion and advice...or you just find it amusing to read sad stories about relatives unable to visit each other. As unhelpful as they were from the beginning, I thank you. You sound like someone intelligent enough who knows what he's talking about. But in order to be heard and appreciated find a way to show you also have manners and compassion. Just an advice from me, that's all.

You know I wasn't thinking for 2 seconds and actually thought I SHOULD have President Obama write me a letter of recommendation so a few friends can hop on over here.

You should be a comedian, you know.

Still wondering

Are you kidding? He doesn't know her. A letter of recommendation on the basis that we are trusted, honest, tax paying DE residents in our right to invite a family member. So sorry if you have to have connections with the senator's office to receive some help.

I happen to know the consul general in Bulgaria...we worked together many years ago. 50/50? I don't think so. Justification is important because the CG reviews the decisions daily of his/her subordinates. Issuing a visa to your sister would have raised all sorts of flags. The VO allegedly doling out visas like candy, if true, will have his wings clipped in a hurry. It is possible that one VO was largely doing renewals, and those tend to go fast. But at the end of the day, your input will have zero positive impact ...because of the transparency issues I mentioned earlier...and knowing the current CG as I do, well, your letter will likely join the dozens of others received each week and collect dust, which is as it should be. The VOs do not need and should never depend on the opinions of interested third parties...it is extremely unwise and technically disallowed by law. VOs...and only VOs have the authority to approve or deny visas...and they are supposed to make those decisions without 'assistance' from others who are only interested in one case.

As far as a VO responding to a 'personal' request, that is NOT a requirement...once emotions get involved, the accuracy of the visa adjudication process breaks down...sympathy is found in the dictionary, not at the visa window.

It's great that you know the CG in Bulgaria. I don't know which one you know, the old one, the new one or the brand new one. But like I said I know that a letter back in 2007 made a difference. I believe that if you are an honest person and have good intentions, someone should take you out of the statistics and read your letter from the pile. Everything you say about the emotions and the sympathy is very true and yet I am in my right to seek some appreciation and trust for doing things the right way. Because if you were in my position and had a sister and emotions ( I am not being rude btw, just making a point) you'd know what I'm talking about. We had a discussion with some friends the other night how there should be two types of tourist visas where the invitation/petition/guarantee on the american side would count for something. My sister's circumstances will not change in the near future. She'll always be a young girl from Eastern Europe who has already been denied a visa once. So does that mean I will never be able to have her visit us? Is that the life my new home country is offering to me? I really hope someone does prove you wrong...and if not well you were right about everything you said all along.

That bit made my early morning anyway good luck on the outcome of your sister's next interview.

What's so funny? She really said that!

Of course the senator cannot write such a letter .... for the very reasons they gave! How can they, with a straight face, write something about your sister and her alleged intentions when they (a) don't know her personally and (b) have no legal influence over the visa adjudication process??? Knowing you (if he or she did) does not translate into some kind of 'magic qualifications' that will be bestowed upon your sister.

writing the consul general might make you feel better, but it will not result in the denial being overturned (there are NO appeals by law) nor will such a letter have any positive effect over a future application. Reason? As I said before, the responsibility to convince a VO of one's bona fides and/or intentions falls exclusively on the applicant...no other person can 'vouch' for said applicant, 'guarantee' their compliance with US law (since you do not have any legal authority over your sister) nor does the opinion of an interested third party mean anything during an interview...the only opinion that matters is that of the VO interviewing the applicant. Now, you may doubt this or disagree with it, but....those are the facts and the law....feel free to peruse the Immigration & Nationality Act to find an exception....(you won't).

A lot of people believe (erroneously) that they should have some sort of power over a VO, merely by voicing their disagreement with the VO's decision...but no one does. Or that if they plead their case (often by making wild accusations against the VO) to their representative, that somehow said representative will make a phone call or write a letter and all will be well....except they forget that Congress has ZERO authority over the visa adjudication process, because of the separation of powers that isolates each branch of our government from the other (Congress is the legislative branch; the State Dept is in the executive branch)....in order to maintain the complete transparency of the visa process, no outside influence is permitted, under any circumstances.

And of course many people conveniently forget that thanks to the thousands of young single women who misled a VO about her intentions and wound up staying in the US only cause the VOs in a particular country to be less willing to give the benefit of a doubt to anyone in the same demographic (young single women from Eastern Europe are not the only transgressors but they make up a considerable percentage of visa overstayers, usually for the very reasons YOU gave....no bright future in their own country, living at or near the bottom of the economic ladder, and knowing that their prospects could be markedly improved by marrying an American citizen)....now I know you are about to say that 'well, my sister would not do that!!!'...and maybe she won't, but no VO is going to roll the dice to find out, given her current circumstances. As I said before, what possible justification could a VO give his/her consul general if asked why a visa was issued to somebody whose ties to Bulgaria are virtually non existent? and waving a letter from you around in front of said consul general will more than likely result in a loss of confidence in that VO, whose position would then be at risk....no one is going to do that.

You sound so well aware of everything, you make me smile The only reason I decided to fight is because I personally (not heard a story about someone,sometime,somewhere) have a friend in Bulgaria whose US citizen friend who invited her, wrote to the Consul General back in 2007 and made a difference. She was divorced at the time with a job and an apartment. The person inviting her- a single American male. They refused to give her a visa. The US citizen writes a letter to AppEaL and two weeks later she gets a call from the Embassy. They invited her over for an interview, no fee required. The General Consul without even asking any questions handed her a single entry 6month tourist visa.

Now I'm not saying I'm expecting the same thing to happen to my sister. Unfortunately the Consul has changed since then and who knows if the new one ever even reads his mail, but it doesn't hurt to try. Have a little faith and don't say it's impossible Who knows maybe you're right, but at least I know I didn't just give up. Because I understand all circumstances and requirements, but I don't care about the statistics. It's personal. Someone out there should take it a little more personal too.

P.S. "What possible justification could a VO give his/her consul general if asked why a visa was issued to somebody whose ties to Bulgaria are virtually non existent?" I don't know how many times you have applied for a tourist visa, but let me assure you of one thing. Justification is virtually not existent when it comes to this. Chances are 50/50. My sister said there were two guys doing the interviews. One was giving visas like candy barely asking any questions, the other gave out one after interviewing the guy for 30min and rejecting 6 more before him. So as crazy or unbelievable as it sounds,it is ...luck.

I got a call from the senator's office yesterday. We talked for about 15min with the office representative and she gave me the ridiculous explanation the Senator can't write a letter of recommendation since he doesn't know me or my sister. Meaning he would write one for herself or someone in his office but not for the behalf of my husband who trusted and voted for him (I wish I told her that at the time)

Anyway, my sister is not going to travel with my dad, that's not the idea. We can't really afford both of their tickets. I haven't given up yet and I am sending a letter to the General Consul.

I wish I had more positive answers here,but I know what the reality is too.We'll see what happens. Thank you all.

But then businesses would not have easy access to cheap labor.

I agree...Congress should END ALL AOS from tourist visas...there is really no excuse for AOS, no real foundation for the astonishing mind changes people have....we should have simple rules....

a- arrive as a tourist, leave as one.

b- overstay by one day, barred for ten years without a waiver (unless the visa holder was in a coma on their last day of authorized stay or every airline in the US was shut down).

c- work illegally, barred for life.

d- EWI - barred for life.

No exceptions. No waivers. We need 'enforced personal responsibilty' legislated against those who think they are above our laws.

Thank you for the replies. I understand everything you are saying and even agree with most of it. However you are not offering any solution to the problem. After all this is our situation, our life the way it's gonna be. We are not faking notes from employer or transferring money to her bank account or signing over a property on her name or marrying her fiance just so she can get the damn visa! We go ahead and tell the truth! All we have is our word and our honest intentions, no one can appreciate that?!? Please give me an advice not the facts I already know.

Hello, everyone. It's been a while, but I need some advice from the more experienced here again. My sister was denied a tourist visa today. Needless to say how disappointed we are. She is 24years old, not married (living with my parents and her boyfriend of 7years), doesn't own anything and hasn't had a job for 2 years now. Horrible, I know. However with the unemployment situation in Bulgaria we just wrote in the application she's a homemaker. Plus I thought our good chances were in the fact that both my dad and my brother got 10year visas when they applied in 2010 to come for our wedding. My brother came and stayed for less than a month and went back to Bulgaria after that and my dad never used his visa.(This was all mentioned and checked at the interview). As far as evidence go we provided the invitation letter and a bank statement to prove we can take care of all expenses. We just wanted her to come here for a month since we can't go to Bulgaria due to work and vacation etc, we wanted to bring a piece of my family here to visit and meet my new family.

My question is, if I put all this in an email and write to the consul, what are my chances of success? In fact what are the steps of appeal? The part of bringing new evidence is not very good in this case, because my sister can't really find a steady job in the little town she lives. They don't want to go ahead and get married to bring a piece of paper to get a visa (her boyfriend has a good job and they are saving for a wedding now). The part with having children is not great either because the truth is she has fertility issues and they have been trying for 2 years now, unsuccessfully. (I will put this in the appeal email too).

So what do we do? Who do we write to? A congressman? A mayor? The US counsel in Bulgaria? Please give us an advice as I really want her to come and visit this summer. I understand the illegal aliens issues and all,but it hurts when you really are doing this for the right reasons and honest intentions.It's just devastating, because she has never even been outside of our hometown and for her to come here and experience the culture or to even fly on a plane will be amazing. Somebody somewhere must have a heart and understand that!!! Who do I write to? What do we do? Would it even help? Thank you.

Hey guys,I need some help for a friend of mine.What happens when you have to apply for the 10 year green card when you were just recently divorced?I know you have to get a waver,but what is the process.A friend of mine (the US citizen) is looking to get a divorce and we want to find out what will his future ex wife have to do in order to get her documents straight.They really don't want to wait at all.And also how long do you have to wait in the state of Illinois after you get a divorce before you decide to get married again or apply for a fiance visa?Any ideas?Thanks for the help

Like others, Nik and I have struck out when trying to find (or even get to talk to someone!!) a CS who will transcribe the vaccinations without charging an arm and a leg.

I know there are some of you out there who have had some luck finding a CS who doesn't rip you off, but the experiences are scattered all over the place. Also, as was mentioned in another thread, maybe it's time the VJ community got together and used our experiences in this aspect to help each other out.

I think a pinned thread with a summary post every now and again is the best way, but SunDrop is trying something different - hopefully we can combine our collections!!

So, please let us know if you've found a good CS!

<!--quoteo(post=3532538:date=Dec 1 2009, 11:48 AM:name=SunDrop)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (SunDrop @ Dec 1 2009, 11:48 AM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=3532538"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Actually, I've gone ahead and created an email addy for collecting this information. I'll compile it on an excel spreadsheet and make it viewable by anyone on googledocs.

If you have filed your AOS in the past 6 months, please email VJCSdatabase@gmail.com with the following information

City/ Town:Greenbelt

State:MD

Date of Service:03/15/11

CS Name:Gustavo Restrepo

CS Tel. no: incl. area code - (301) 441-9410

Cost:$ 30

Vaccine Transcription only available: y

Nice and quick.After calling about 10 other receptionists explaining how I need to pay $100 and up that price was perfect!

Hello everyone.We had our green card interview on Wednesday and it went great.The officer liked us and it almost turned out to be fun time.However he said that almost everyone who comes here on a K1 visa needs to get their vaccination list completed and I need to see a civil surgeon to get that done.He made it seem like a very normal procedure but I want to know how much it cost????I heard somewhere it's $300????please help!!!

Hello,everyone.I have a huge problem and I need your help.My interview for adjustment of status is on March 2nd which is in less than 10 days.I received a letter with all the documents I need to bring at the interview and one of them is of course is my birth certificate with a translated copy.I did already send it with the initial documents and I am sure I made a copy before I posted it.However according to Murphy's law I can't find it!!!!I only have a week till the interview and I don't know what to do?!?What if I go without it?They already have it and from what it says regarding the affidavit of support documents you don't need to submit them if you already have before!!!Would this count for my birth certificate too?!?!Right now I am trying to get in contact with the translation agency that did my birth certificate in Bulgaria and see if they would be willing to scan and send me a copy of it.But what if they don't??It is really way to late to get my mom to get a new birth cert and translate and send it.I don't even know if they would let her do it without an authorization form from me.Would it be ok if I just translate it myself.I can really use my friend's birth cert as a template and sign it as a "person fluent in the language".It would be exactly the same only without the stamp.Would that work?!?

I really don't know what to do!Do I show up without it and say I already submitted it before???Do I translate it on my own?!?

Please help!!!

Thank you all in advance and God bless.

Ok we got an interview date now for March 2nd.I was wondering first if its possible to change that date for earlier and also should I expect the work permit before that?Thanks

OMG this is so annoying!!!That really is the first time i hear about this medical.I have my vaccination list from the medicals before the K1 interview so where do I find this civil surgeon?How much does it cost?How long does it take?How come I didn't notice that on the visajourney guide?Thanks

Ok I saw it now My AOS is within one year so how do I check if my record is complete or incomplete?Thanks

If you are adjusting from a K-1 and your medical examination is less than a year old at the time you file for AOS, then all you need to include is the Proof of Vaccination part of the I-693. That is done in the US by a Civil Surgeon (authorized by USCIS) using the information you provide - either the worksheet you received from the Panel Physician in your home country, or your own medical records. The doctor has the necessary form in his office. If your K-1 medical is more than a year old when you file for AOS, then you need to provide a complete immigration medical, including proof of vaccinations, done by a Civil Surgeon.

You only need a copy of the G325 for yourself.

OMG this is so annoying!!!That really is the first time i hear about this medical.I have my vaccination list from the medicals before the K1 interview so where do I find this civil surgeon?How much does it cost?How long does it take?How come I didn't notice that on the visajourney guide?Thanks

I'm sorry, this happens quite a bit. They've lost it or just can't see it (usually they just can't see it).

Your options are:

1. Ask your doctor from the K1 to email you a copy

2. Make an infopass appt and tell them the medical is in there

3. contact your senator/congressman and ask them to look into it

4. Pay for a new medical. Depending on your local CS this could be less than $200, could also be much more.

I would do them in the order I've listed personally. perhaps even 2 and 3 at the same time "just in case". You are correct that time is of the essence so you'll need to start on this ASAP.

Good luck, and again sorry that you're encountering this issue

Ok,we are getting ready to send off my AOS documents tomorrow and this is the first time I hear about sending medical supplement.I didn't see that on the visajourney guide.Is that the vaccination list you get before the K1 interview??Do we send a copy of that?They told me I will need it for the adjustment of status process,so is that when we need it?Also if so,do we send the original or a copy??Please some help,I don't want an RFE this time!!!thanks

The K-1 is adjusting from the approval of the I-129f petition (fiance) so doesn't need to file an I-130 petition (family member) as well, unless the K-1 marriage happened 2 years or more prior to filing for the AOS. You're fine with just the I-485, the affidavit of support, the medical supplement, the travel permission and the work permission.

What do you mean the medical supplement???Is that the vaccination list you receive with your medicals before the interview for the K1 visa???If now when do we use that?Also the g-325 do we complete two-one for me and one for my husband like with the K1 process or just one for me since I am the one adjusting status?Thanks again