fermat

I need to get my spouse's personal items (clothes, books) from Germany to the US. She needs to ship them about 30 days before she leaves because nobody will do it for her when she is gone and she needs to move out of her apartment 3 weeks before she leaves. She talked to DHL and they told her she did not need a visa or anything to ship her things to me. I talked to CBP and they told me that no way would they allow her stuff in the country before she was there, that DHL wouldn't even agree to ship it before she arrives in the US. I don't know what to do. She has 10 x 30kg boxes of clothes, books and personal items. I was thinking of just paying the duty if I have to but then I saw this page on the CBP website. http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel/vacation/kbyg/increased_duty_rates.xml. It basically says that the Duty is 100% on items from Germany. That seems a little steep. Not to mention, I have no idea how to estimate the fair market value of used clothes and German books. Any advice?

My wife passed her interview on May 9th. She's waiting for her passport in the mail now.

I read a review that said "we had to pay $400". Perhaps a bribe? Didn't make sense to me. Thanks.

For IR-1/CR-1 cases, there's no other fees to be paid at the embassy/consulate. You might have to bring an envelope or money for courier service. Yeah, I just checked, and according to the interview guidelines for Frankfurt (found here: http://travel.state..../info_3742.html), you have to bring €4.25 in stamps (not cash). Other than that, there is no extra fee.

We paid the AOS fee and the IV Application fee via NVC's online payment system. I'm wondering if they are going to ask for more money at the consulate on the day of the interview.

I'm wondering at what point in the process is the A-number assigned (the number that should be on your actually green card). It is my understanding that they will stamp this number in your passport at the POE. But I heard stories of people stamping the wrong number. I'm wondering if there is any chance to check this A-number in the passport stamp, vs any other document before the green card arrives in the mail.

I'm wondering how to buy the airline ticket. One-way ticket seems like it is 5x the cost of a round-trip ticket. Can I buy a round trip and then just not use the return leg? I heard this was against the rules, but will the airline be able to figure it out? Do you have to supply the airline with Visa info when coming into the US?

Do I need to be interviewed also at the POE? I wasn't planning on making another trip just for that. $$$$$$$

thanks everyone, wish you all the very best at your interview!!! I will be back with many more congrats once you all are done! To Val: Gary will be fine, hes from the UK and not Colombia lol. Just tell him to try to remain calm and be overly excited to be in that small immigration room no matter if he is tired! We were told that we werent happy enough so that raised suspicions...supposedly the officer has seen thousands of people just like us and all of them were so excited and happy, and of course not shaking. I guess he didnt listen to the part that my wife told him about getting up at 3 am and dragging 5 suitcases down 6 floors because the elevator wasnt working. If you get CO Thompson, tell him that I have my doubts about his marriage

Everyone will be :dance: soon

hey guys finally we got a email on friday!!!!!!!!

Interview is set for may 19 at 7:30 am!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Got the interview date email. May 9th.

You wouldn't happen to know the best number to call at DOS would you?

Just keep calling NVC and DOS to get any news on your case.

Grats! Great birthday present!

Not a word since it was 'case complete' 2 weeks ago. Any suggestions on what I should do next?

Thanks, fermat! Any word on yours?

Congrats on your interview date Jenny.

It's not a coincidence, it's the standard. The federal government is full of incompetant boobs.

Transferred to TSC - We were

Delayed 2 months - We were

Delayed transfer from TSc to NVC - We were

and now

Effect of Govt shutdown on us - We have

What the miserable coincidences on us?

Don't misunderstand me. I don't work for the State Department.

That is awesome news. thanks

I got a memo saying my department would continue working for at least 6 weeks in case of a furlough due to the way we're funded. So no time off and my visa gets delayed, wonderful.

That doesn't make any sense. I could have had an interview date under normal processing time while they reviewed the expedite request? It's been 1 week since I sent the request.

Yes, expedite through NVC doesn't really speed up things if the paperwork has been started - in fact, it can hold up procedures whilst the expedite is under review. Where things do speed up, is when the case is cleared at NVC.

Rather than the NVC setting the interview date, the docs are sent straight to consulate for expeditious scheduling by the embassy.

My timeline just says the date I sent out the expedite request. I didn't hear back about it. I called 2 days ago they told me the request was pending still.

<br />When you call NVC AVR, and it says your case has been completed and sent to embassy on .....If not, yur case is still with NVC. I looked at your timelines, and it says your case has been accepted for expedites. Are you? You should call NVc and talk to an operator about your case.<br />

The AVR just says my case was completed on 3/28/2011 and to allow 8 weeks. So I guess my case has not yet been forwarded.

Where are you guys accessing this DHL log?

Who knows. They don't tell me anything.

Was not your case expedited? Interview is scheduled at embassy for expedites.

So I can have that one?

This one is out for Germany

Reference no. 8770505170

I don't have a DHL number. Where would I get one?

By looking at the DHL log and comparing to the NVC address, I think all the cases that are to be forwarded to embassy, are first sent to Boston, MA. Boston might be the distribution channel for NVC.

According to Saylin, they don't forward until you have an interview date, and as far as I know, I don't have an interview date yet so I guess it is still at NVC.

Is your case still in NVC?

I'd say what you have there is a case of mistaken identity and the "visa specialist" is anything but.

jejeje when the case is in the consulate you can call to the operator in the department of state , they call them self "visa specialist" (they dont)...

I wonder if my expedite request is causing a delay.

What is a "visa specialist"?

hi everyone i called today to visa specialist and the told me the consulate send me a package and they will notified to the petitioner and the beneficiary. what is that he said package 3 but a told him , ( this is not a k3 visa , why they gonna send me a package 3?) so please somebody help!!!