Hi and Welcome! First, let me wish you well on your journey. By the time you get to the end of my reply, your head may be spinning so I thought I'd get that out of the way first!
Second... disclaimer...everything I say here is my experience with Mexico and the Ciudad Juarez(CDJ) consulate. I am certain that other consulates do things differently.
Next..a couple of housekeeping things. 1)You can check my timeline for 'wait times'. I'm just a couple of months ahead of you. We're traveling Monday to CDJ and I'll update next week. 2) You can search for my posts. There are just a handful where I have asked 2 or 3 very pointed questions, and have gotten great responses, even if they were just validation of my thinking. So when you are through here, take a look at those if you like. The wisdom I gained from those posts will be imparted here anyway.
OK - I'll answer like this... it is a maze, and if you are not careful you can run into false starts trying to follow the process. The END GAME for you, at this point, is here: http://ciudadjuarez.usconsulate.gov/fianceforms.html'>http://ciudadjuarez.usconsulate.gov/fianceforms.html
Here is what happened for me. Feel free to play along...
Provided you did your diligence in completing the I-129F, you should receive your NOA2 soon. No guarantees, but I would say ... soon. Ours was about 65 days from Receipt Date to Notice Date. It will tell you that they have approved your petition and that you should receive something from the NVC. The NVC notice took about another week to get.
The NVC notice is important, as it has the case number assigned for the consulate. This is different than the INS Receipt Number, and begins with CDJ.
That letter will tell you to go here: http://www.travel.state.gov/visa/immigrants/types/types_4323.html , and you'll click the drop-down and find CDJ-Ciudad Juarez.
Click the button and a PDF will open. Click the first link http://ciudadjuarez.usconsulate.gov/
If you click the second link for Immigrant Visa Forms you'll just become more confused and your brain will turn to cottage cheese. That's what happened to me. Don't do it.
So now you are at the main CDJ website. Mouse over Visas and click K-1(Fiance) and K-3 (Spouse) Visas. You can then click on Steps to Obtaining a K Visa and walk yourself through those at you leisure, but like I said, where you and your fiance ultimately need to be is the K Visa Application Forms page (see next paragraph). Methodically go through each link on that page and do what they say.
Let me jump back to the timeline now. The NVC notice will tell you that the petition will be forwarded to the post (CDJ) for processing. It will also say that your fiance will soon receive a packet with instructions. This is the infamous Packet 3. The problem is that it's not really a packet. It's a single page letter telling you that you have an open appointment at the consulate. It will point you to the fiance forms webpage that I have said is the END GAME...http://ciudadjuarez.usconsulate.gov/fianceforms.html'>http://ciudadjuarez.usconsulate.gov/fianceforms.html (see preceding paragraph), AND THAT'S IT! Scoop up everything it asks for, and follow the instructions.
Now, I will tell you that I received a copy of the appointment letter before my fiancee did, dated April 27, and postmarked from El Paso May 17. I got it on May 19. My fiancee received her copy on May 28, also postmarked from El Paso May 17. So, maybe they send the letters out in batches via diplomatic mail pouch to the U.S. and then they get mailed, or who knows. Just know that you both should receive a copy, and it will come regular mail to both of you.
As soon as you get the CDJ number from the NVC, you should start gathering up all the forms, and as soon as you get the appointment letter, plan your trip and go! You just show up, with the letter and all the other documentation.
There is a recent (May 28 I think) review if CDJ posted under the Review Embassy/USCIS POE.
Hope this helps and good luck!
Michael
moleary got a reaction from dogspot in K-1's Get your Social Security Number ASAP!!!
moleary got a reaction from TLJohnson in k1 visa/ packets 1,2,3