curvebell

Here is a question...

Why do you think I have received my letter for biometrics but no letter/information about my file being transferred anywhere?! Is this normal?

Also, I still cannot track my cases online at uscis.gov - I've already called twice regarding this. ugh.

@ Bill&Jade - I am so shocked to read that you were required to have a 'physical' genital check. The doctor I saw in Australia did not even 'take a peek' down there - so I'm unsure what your CS would have been checking for. Agree with Vanessa, report him if you feel it was inappropriate!

I'm really glad I stuck with my guns with this CS. It seemed like she felt it wasn't worth her time just to transcribe my immunizations - so she thought she might as well try and make some money of this stupid immigrant. The instructions on the i-693 could not be clearer that K-1's do not need to have any further medicals (unless their prior was more than 1 year ago) - why is that not enough evidence for these bloody CS's?!!

Biometrics Letter in hands , June 15th..... , I dont know if i should try an early Walk in here in south Florida...Anybody have done with success?

I did a Biometrics walk-in with success!... but in Washington state just try your luck, you never know

Good luck with your journey! x

Hang tight! 3 months is kind of like the hump day of waiting. Once you've passed it, time goes much quicker and you realise how many things you need to organise to get ready for the big move!

Hey everyone!!

Just a bit of confusion atm.

My fiance and I are in the finishing touches of our Visa. We've received packet 1 and packet 3...but no packet 2????? What exactly is packet 2???

Also, the police in Australia will not hand over a fingerprint check. They said that it has to be sent directly to the officials requesting it, I am curious to know that if the Police check, the medical examination and the visa documentation were to be sent separately would that be OK. I am thinking that they are expecting it all as one package.

Thanks for your help again, as always. =)

Timothy and Samantha.

What do you mean by packet 1 and 2? Are you referring to NOA's 1 & 2? The only things that you receive from the Sydney consulate is Packet 3 (which includes info on how to apply for the visa on the Sydney end) and Packet 4 (which is simply just your interview date and time).

Regarding your police check... it may depend on what state you are in. I live in NSW and the police had no problem forwarding the fingerprint/name check directly to my home address.

It is probably in your best interest to send all the forms/documentation together in one pack. Nothing can be processed until they receive all your paperwork anyway. Things may get lost/misplaced/never matched up etc.

Hope this helps, Good luck!

It sure has been quiet around here! Looks like everyone is almost ready to fly over to the US!

Just to share a problem I encountered with my medical. Make sure your immunizations are complete - so you can eliminate the need to see a civil surgeon once you get over here. I had a huge headache when I found out mine was 'incompete - blanket waiver' and the panel physician in Sydney had marked 'insufficient time interval' under one of the immunizations by mistake. Better yet make sure you have a copy of your entire medical from your home country as I've read quite a bit about USCIS 'losing' medical files and issuing RFE's to have another medical. Ugh. Finding a helpful Civil Surgeon is a nightmare so try and avoid seeing one altogether!

Anyway, our journeys will almost be over and we won't have to deal with USCIS for at least another 2 years! Hope all are well!

xx

My question is do I need to send in proof of our relationship along with forms DS-156, DS-156k, and the documents on the check-list. I was also wondering if it was okay to just send in his immunization records as his "medical records" since these are the only records he has. Where should I put the two photos they request? There is only a spot on the DS-156, should I just put them in a plastic bag? Also Any good ideas on how to send off this stack of papers i.e. should I just stuff them in and envelope or partition them in some way, how did you guys do it? Sorry for all the questions, I just want to be as prepared as possible so this goes smoothly! Thanks for the help.

Sophie

Only send what they require on the check list. The proof of ongoing relationship can be brought with him to the interview. There is no point sending it to the embassy in Sydney.

He needs to have an official medical conducted by a panel physician! Just sending his immunization records won't cut it. The official medical includes a physical/chest x-ray and blood test - also any immunizations he has missed. See here http://canberra.usembassy.gov/med_exam_instructions.html

You need to also submit 2 copies of the DS-156, therefore there are two spots for the passport photos.

Erm, hope this helps. Re-read the guides carefully and all the info in your packet 3 very carefully

I did a walk-in for my biometrics today. Guy was lovely, was in and out in 10 minutes. I guess it just depends on the city - Spokane is tiny compared to Chicago.

Yay! Xx

Received my biometrics yesterday arvo! Scheduled for 06/10!

I sent off my AOS application on May 7. USCIS received the package on may 9. Since that day I haven't heard anything and check was cashed that same day. I wonder if this is normal because I've seen other timelines and NOA1 is usually issued within a week. How long is ok to wait?

Call up USCIS and ask if it has been sent out!???

Recieved our biometrics letter already!

OF COURSE they'd schedule him during the time we'll be on our honeymoon. I hope they do walk-ins at our center. Fingers crossed.

ooh lovely! how quick! i'm just a day behind you so fingers crossed i'll have mine too soon! x

Received our hard copies in the mail on the 16th and up to now they are not in the USCIS system boo! They also made a mistake on my NOA for my AP - wrong date of birth but correct on the other 2. Go figure.

I've applied for an EAD expedite with my i-485 submission. We just received NOA1 today so I'll call USCIS tomorrow and see who I can speak with to find out whether or not it will be granted. I'm hoping to start a job in about a months time.

I'll let you know how I go. Good luck with yours. There is no harm in trying. x

We sent off our AOS package yesterday! Also included a letter to expedite my EAD! Fingers crossed.

xx

That still would not explain the 'insufficient time interval' on my ds-3025.

I saw a civil surgeon today and she transcribed the exact information on my DS-3025 to the i-693 and ticked 'complete' - so I have no idea what Dr Millar was on. What I do know is that finding and seeing a civil surgeon is a royal pain in the bum.

If you had never had MMR then there is usually a series of two to ensure you are immune. Tdap, I'm pretty sure is a booster taken every 10 years. I had chicken pox as a kid so I don't know about that vaccine.

Hopefully everything is sorted now! for both of us x

Thanks....I did call them to ask. Apparently ticking 'insufficient time interval' is 'standard procedure' when they have an incomplete vaccination history, and you are given a blanket waiver for those vaccinations (when I had another look at the record...they have actually ticked 'insufficient time interval' for ALL of the vaccinations I had just had done! MMR, varicella and Tdap). How exactly you have an 'incomplete vaccination history' when you have just brought them proof of having had the vaccinations done the day before the medical, I don't know! I guess the MMR and the varicella are still classed as incomplete because you need to have two of each to complete the series I think. But the Tdap one still has me confused. I didn't think that not completing the series would be that big a deal since I read in the instructions for civil surgeons guide that only the first shot in a series needs to be given in order to get the visa approved..but they are to strongly encourage the immigrant to finish the series once they re-settle in the US. Doesn't seem like that is the case for you though right now!

Hope you can get it sorted out soon!!

The question asks...

Persons NOT sponsored in this affidavit. You are sponsoring your spouse so put '0'.

In the event you have a co-sponsor, in our case my father is law is a co-sponsor. He is married but she is NOT applying for AOS/the one being sponsored then you enter '1' as they are part of their household size.

This is how my husband and I have come to understand this.

Hope it helps.

Thanks guys! These civil surgeons are a bunch of crooks! haha.

Just thought I would share my experience on visiting a civil surgeon in Spokane, WA - since I could find no information specific to this area.

Basically there are 3 civil surgeons. Dr/s Lee & Lee, who are husband and wife; and Dr Goodwinn, who works out of Spokane Falls Family Clinic. Here is my experience with both Dr (Mrs) Lee & Dr Goodwin;

Dr Goodwin - Will transcribe for $175 (which I was informed would be the same I would pay if I were to have a physical)... HOWEVER... I was told that I needed to register with the clinic and wait a week to be entered into the system. I would then need to pay the $175 upfront to make the appointment with Dr Goodwin. Once I got to speak with him he would then let me know whether or not my 'immigration situation' was something he could help me with. I asked the office manager whether or not he would transcribe my immunization record to an i-693 and she told me she didn't know and advised me to pay the money and see the doctor. So basically if Dr Goodwin refused, i would have been out of $175. What a joke.

Dr Lee - Will transcribe for $25. Great right!!! I was told to bring my passport/visa, marriage cert, husbands birth cert, DS-3025 and other medical information I had from my home country. The receptionist told me that I will need to have a TB test to which I refused, she stated that I would need proof if this was the case - so I told her I would bring the USCIS i-693 instructions that say that I don't need another. Sounded easy enough.

So I booked to see Dr Lee. In a nutshell, she INSISTED that I needed to have a TB skin test/X-RAY. I showed her my entire medical I had done in my home country and she basically told me it was worthless - even though it was endorsed by the US Embassy panel physician. She refused to read or even look at the i-693 instructions I brought along with me and basically told me to go see Dr Goodwin if I wasn't happy with her. I'm glad I did my research as I knew I did not need to have another physical or TB test - heck, I had the x-rays with me and was not about to drop another $300. Anyway she basically kicked me out of her office.

After a couple of hours of whinging and trying to track down that infamous Texas doctor I had been reading a lot about who would transcribe over the phone/fax (they are no longer a civil surgeon FYI) - I got a call from Dr Lee's receptionist who said she had found some information supporting what I had said (DUH!) and invited me back the following monday to see the doctor. TO make a long story short(er) - Dr Lee transcribed my DS-3025 in about 10 minutes and admitted that she had not really dealt with anyone with a K-1 VISA.

I truly hope this helps the next person who comes through this way. Don't forget to do your research!

What an exhausting process. Now I can hopefully get AOS away this week!

Thanks KLS,

I did see Dr Millar. I wish I had double checked and understood what it meant when I originally got it back. You should check it out, because if it is marked as incomplete it will be a pain in the a$$ to fix it once you get over here. I have had nothing but stress the past couple of days tracking down useless civil surgeons in my area. Not sure what kind of process you are following but any problems with paperwork or anything you don't understand sort it out now - it is much easier to get straight answers out of the US Embassy in Sydney than it is from the USCIS!!!

good luck!!! x

First of all - Congrats on a safe arrival and for wedding!

Curious...did you happen to go to Dr Millar by any chance? I had my medical with him on the 29th and got my results back a couple of days ago saying the same thing for the Tdap. I had the vaccination done the day before the medical and had the proof from my local doctor...but my vaccination record also shows 'insufficient time interval'.

I'm doing IR-1/CR-1 so this probably isn't as big an issue for me as it is for you since I don't have to adjust status...but I was just curious....

Hi Darwin,

I sent all forms in together as soon as received packet 3. I had my medical and police cert ready to go. Send your packet in a registered express post envelope so you can keep track of any important documents. The chances of it getting lost are highly unlikely - but stranger things have happened.

Good luck the turn around from this point on is pretty quick.

Thanks for this post of Packet 3. This has been most helpful since our Packet 3 has been mis-sent.

I was wondering, did you send in only:

Form DS-230 (Part I) ONLY— Application for Immigrant Visa and Alien Registration

Initially for processing or did you also send in the below as well?

Form DS-156K — Nonimmigrant Fiancé(e) Visa Application (1 copy)

Form DS-156 — Nonimmigrant Visa Application (2 copies)

Form I-134 — Affidavit of Support (Affidavit of Support Instructions)

Form DSL-1076 — Applicant’s Statement of Readiness to be Interviewed

Also the supporting documents, such as original birth certificates. I am reluctant to send my original birth certificate as it may get lost in transit. Can I just submit the required forms as well as the checklist and then take all original documents with me at the time of the interview or do they require the original as well?

Absolutely zero truth to that. Any RFE pauses every case. The AP and EAD are tied to the AOS. While they're processed separately if you aren't eligible for AOS (the RFE means they don't think you are eligible unless you provide more info) then you won't get them. Sometimes people get their EAD/AP before they get the RFE so you can still use it of course but sometimes you get the RFE before the EAD/AP are issued and then you won't get them until you reply (successfully) to the RFE.

#######! lol i better go and bloody get that i-693 tomorrow then. haha dammit, more roadblocks!!!

thanks vanessa.

Could be possible the panel physician made an error but they'll still see the "insufficient time interval" and think you're missing a shot. They just have a list to go by.. they don't know everything. If you want to try sending it go ahead and then if you get an RFE it's an easy fix. That way not wasting your time unless you have to. In the meantime I would look for CS's that are reasonable.. you wouldn't wanna be running around trying to find one if and when you get an RFE.

Cheers Vanessa, I might just go ahead and send it and get it prepared in the meantime if and ever. Just want to get AOS away since I need my EAD asap. I've read an RFE for I-485 won't hold up EAD? You have any idea how much truth there is to this?

Thanks again and congrats to you too Kiwibird!

Congrats on your wedding!

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news though 'cause you need to see a CS. Because you're missing a tDap shot (which is what the "insufficient time interval" means) you need to have the shot, then have that shot, plus your shots from the DS-3025 transcribed into an I-693 (Part 1, Part 2 (vaccination table only) and Part 5). If you don't see a CS and do the I-693 you will get an RFE... but you're welcome to try and see what happens (that "insufficient time interval" though is one of the things they're looking for/at).

Thank you!

Hmmm I'm confused. Could it be possible the panel physician made an error as I had the Tdap booster on 01.22.2011 - the doc entered the correct date on the ds-3025. So I know I definitely do not need to have any additional jabs. I plan to include the entire medical examination as well as vaccination history from my GP.

Hi everyone!

Just thought I'd check in and give ya'll an update. So I finally made it over to the States a little over a week ago and yesterday had an intensely romantic 1 minute court house wedding ceremony

No problems encountered really except when we went to get the marriage license on the weekend I was told that I would need a letter from the Social Security office saying that I either have or do not have a SS Number. Well, I brought my SS card along with me so I definitely had one... apparently this wasn't enough proof... Confused, I went off to the SS office where the lady behind the counter basically said the marriage license office lady was crazy and gave me a letter to say that I had applied for a SS# anyway. Confused? Yes, well so was/am I.

So I've just been preparing the AOS packet the past couple of days, cannot wait to get rid of it! However, I had a question regarding the DS-3025. Mine is marked as incomplete but eligible for a blanket waiver because vaccinations are not medically appropriate. My tDap however is marked as 'insufficient time interval'. I am not planning on seeing a civil surgeon because frankly I feel it would be wasted time and money lol. Anyone care to share their experience?

Cheers guys. Hope everyone is well!

xx