Alejandra y Mario

Thanks!!!!!

Hi all!

It's been a while since I last came on to VJ (before our K-1 Fiance Visa interview in Juarez in July)!

My fiance.... now HUSBAND!!!!....is with me in California and we are beginning to gather the paperwork for the AOS. I just finished translating his birth certificate from Spanish to English and read on the I-485 Instructions (page 2) that "Any documents containing a foreign language submitted to USCIS shall be accompanied by a full English language translation which the translator has certified as complete and accurate, and by the translator's certification that he or she is competent to translate from the foreign language into English."

Does this mean that I need to get it notarized in order for USCIS to accept it since USCIS wants the translator's certification? I am competent in both languages and even have a B.A. in Spanish and I'm a Spanish teacher.

What have others done?

Have others just typed up a note stating they are competent in both languages and signed it?

I would hate to have to pay a notary public money for something I translated!

Thanks!!!!!!!

...I'm confused on which forms to give my fiance...

Well, this is what I have gathered for my fiance. I made 2 extra copies of everything just because I'm scared something will get missed placed. My binder is a very packed 1.5 inch binder. It weighs almost 6lbs! (I'm thinking I might only take 1 extra copy instead of 2)

1. “Packet 3” (Invitation): the one Juarez will sent you (it's just a single sheet of paper saying to go online.

2. Appointment Confirmation E-mail: go to http://mexico.usvisa-info.com/en-MX/selfservice/login to set up 1.consular interview and 2.ASC and PRINT the email sent after you're done. MAKE SURE YOU TYPE HIS PASSPORT # CORRECTLY!

3. Beneficiary’s passport (original & 1 copy)

4. 2 DS-260 Confirmation Forms

5. MRV $350 Receipt Fee: same website as http://mexico.usvisa-info.com/en-MX/selfservice/login

6. 2 DS-156 Forms

7. 2 DS-156K Forms

8. 2 2x2inch USA passport type picture of beneficiary ( I had my fiance email me his picture and I used http://www.epassportphoto.com/ to make 5 prints...I printed the sheet (with 5 pictures you cut out) from Costco for 13cents)

9. Beneficiary’s Birth Certificate (original & copy)

10. Antecedentes no penales (original & copy)

11. Beneficiary’s Intent to Marry Letter (2 originals)

12. Petitioner’s Intent to Marry Letter (2 originals)

13. Itineraries and Ticket Stubs: to show that we con't to see eachother

14. Skype Records

15. Text Messages

16. Pictures: Write notes behind each picture...date, location, ppl in picture

17. I-134 Forms “Affidavit of Support”

18. Employment Verification Letter

19. Pay Stubs

20. Tax Return 2010 (original & 1 copy), 2009, & 2008

21. Bank Letter

22. Petitioner’s Birth Certificate (original & copy)

23. Petitioner’s Passport (original & 1 copy)

I also included the I-129F packet I sent USCIS and NOA 1, NOA 2, and NVC letter...just in case...

How do I get a reference number? Is it in my NVC letter I got?

I read from another thread that it's: EXP ## MONth(day & the first 3 letters of month NVC sent your petition to Juarez) 2011A. So since NVC told you they shipped it June 6, your reference # is EXP 06 JUN 2011A. You just have to go through all the petitions sent from NVC that day and search for a Juarez one.

No, the number you got on your NVC letter is your case number.

ALSO, CALL NVC and ask for:

1. Beneficiary number

2. invoice number

*you will need these #s (along with the CDJ############ on you NVC letter) to fill in form DS-260.

I have a couple questions! NVC sent my info to CDJ last Monday (June6th), when should I expect to hear from them? Also, how many questions are usually asked at the interview and what do they ask?

Regarding "packet 3", NVC sent our petition to Juarez on May 17. It arrived at Juarez on the 19. Our "packet 3" was postmarked June 6 and it arrived to my (petitioner's) USA address on June 10. So around 3 weeks from June 6. I'm guessing you should receive "packet 3" as early as this coming week.

Have you checked DHL to see when your petition was received at Juarez? Go to http://track.dhl-usa.com/TrackByRef.asp

* Reference : EXP 06 JUN 2011A

* Date range for shipment - From: JUN - 05 - 2011

* Date range for shipment - To: JUN- 08- 2011

When I searched using the info above, DHL delivered a packet to Juarez on the 9th of June. The only thing is that I only found a packet sent out on the 7th, not the 6th... (see below)

8826304561

Shipment delivered.

Signed by ULISES M

6/9/2011 10:12 am

6/7/2011

PORTSMOUTH, NH

JUAREZ, MEXICO

WHAT CITY DO U LIVE IN??? IM PRETTY SURE THERE'S OTHER LITTLE CITY'S THAT HAS DHL SERVICE NOT JUST GUADALAJARA. SO U DONT HAVE TO DRIVE THE 2 HOURS. CUS I KNOW THEU HAVE ONE IN TEPATITLAN AND ARANDAS

I live between La Barca and Atotonilco (next to Balneario Sta. Rita...you might have heard of it if you're from Los Altos). On the CSC website's list of DHL branches, Puerto Vallarta, Guadalajara, and another city next to Guad. were the only options in Jalisco. I know there's a DHL in La Barca but unfortunately, La Barca was not an option/not on their list of branches.

We had ours sent to Monterrey and it took 4 business days, I also spoke with a couple who had it shipped to Nogales and it also took 4 days, so that seems to be about the wait time if you have it sent to another city. The airway bill did give accurate info, told us when it left Juarez, and when it arrived to Monterrey, I even signed up for a text message alert through the DHL website to tell me when it arrived in Monterrey, and that worked too Good Luck!!

Thank you a lot (I really didn't want to drive to GDL and find out it wasn't there yet)! Also, thanks for letting me know about the text message alert!

If all goes well and our K1 visa is approved July 7, my fiance and I plan to return to Jalisco and wait for his visa. We signed up to get it shipped to Guadalajara.

Does anyone know how long (min and max) it will take for it to get to Guadalajara?

Also, does the DHL Air Waybill give accurate information, that is, will it let me know once it's in Guadalajara? Guadalajara is the closest branch and it's 2 hrs away from where we live.

Thanks!

Does it let you just hand write in "fiancee" if you leave it blank?

It doesn't allow you to write in anything and there is no "other" option.

I'm ALMOST done putting everything together, just need him to go get his pictures taken and stuff..

My fiance has had problems getting the right size passport picture in Mexico. If you don't want to wait until he mails you the passport style pictures, have him take a picture and email it to you. Then, go to this website http://www.epassportphoto.com/ and you can make the picture yourself. I printed mine at Costco for 13cents and a sheet gives you 5 pictures.

P.S. The program "epassport" is free, just make sure that you select "No thanks" (it's in tiny letter at the bottom of the "Print the Sheet" page) so you don't have to pay...

Buena suerte

I'm organizing the papers very similar to Kimchimex. I will be using a 1.5 inch 3 ring binder with plastic sleeves. After reading several consulate reviews, I concluded that the beneficiary's passport, appointment confirmation email, & invitation letter (aka "packet 3") are going to be asked at the medical exam, ASC and consular interview (I also read the DS-260 will be asked right away at the Consulate). I put these papers mentioned in the beginning of the binder for easy access. Behind these documents, I put the rest of the papers.

Also, I'm using 8 dividers with the following titles/papers under each tab:

1. K Visa/Fiance(e) Packet (the one you print from: http://ciudadjuarez.usconsulate.gov/fianceforms.html),

2. Packet 3 letter, Appointment Confirmation email, beneficiary's passport, & DS-260 confirmation

3. MRV Fee Receipt (this is the $350 one)

4. DS-156 (3 copies) & beneficiary passport style pictures (4 copies just in case)

5. DS-156K (3 copies), Beneficiary's birth certificate AND copy, Antecedentes no penales

6. Intent to marry letters (dated close to interview), Itineraries and boarding passes (petitioner's visit to Mexico), Skype screenshots, texting records, & pictures (all labeled on the back with: name of ppl in pic, date taken, location taken)

7. I-134, Employer's letter, last 10 months pay stubs, Income tax 2010 (also 2009 and 2008), & bank letter (states when I opened the account, how much is my average balance, and my current balance...printed on the bank's letter head)

8. Petitioner's birth certificate AND COPY, & Petitioner's passport and copy

...Still a work in progress!!!

By the way, here's a link to a helpful consulate review: http://www.visajourney.com/timeline/profile.php?id=87048

http://www.uscis.gov/files/form/i-864p.pdf

Thanks for the link!

Hola todos/as,

After reading many posts about having co-sponsors I can't help but think that I might need one too (I'm feeling like a little kid now: "If you have one I want one too"). Who needs a co-sponsor?

People who earn $XX,XXX a year...

People who...

Thanks!

possibly yes ALL OF THAT IS PROOF OF ENGAGEMENT. BUT COs WOULD LIKE TO SEE PICTURES AS WELL EVIDENCE THAT YOU ALL HAVE MET AND SPENT TIME TOGETHER INCLUDING IN-LAWS.

THAT IS WHY IM TAKING EVERYTHING I HAVE, EVEN COPIES OF THE ENVELOPES I SENT EVERYTHING IN. TRACKING NUMBERS AND SUCH. LOL

Ok...I'll take pictures with our families together! Our families have met and talked but I'm not the type of person to take pictures (I hate taking pictures). I have 3 cameras but I never have one on me either

ITS JUST A PRECAUTION IM TAKING IN THE EVENT THEY NEED 3 YEARS WORTH. THE DS 157 AGAIN IS MAINLY FOR MEN WHO WERE ACTIVE MILITARY PERSONNEL OR HAVE GOTTEN INTO ARMED CONFLICT. IT ALSO LISTS SCHOOLS YOU HAVE ATTENDED. BASICALLY, MORE BACKGROUND INFORMATION FOR THE APPLICANT. PICTURES OF US AND HER FAMILY, PARENTS, COUSINS EVERYONE WITH HER ENGAGEMENT RING (AGAIN VERY STRONG PROOF BECAUSE COs WILL SEE THAT THE FAMILY HAS ACCEPTED YOUR FIANCE). RING RECEIPT, IF THERE WAS AN ENGAMENT PARTY. MAYBE LETTERS OR EMAILS ABOUT YOUR PLANS TO MARRY. STUFF LIKE THAT.

Thanks! Do you think a letter from my parent saying they approve of the marriage is acceptable...since it's tradition to ask the girl's parents for her hand (el pedimiento). Perhaps even notarized?

i would take your hard copy noa 1 and noa2 and letter from nvc that case was received. k applicants do not require medical appointment. good proof of his travel are copies of his stamps he gets on his passport at mexicos aduana and us homeland security. boarding passes, emails, written letters, proof of engagement, receipts. you need three years of tax returns. ds 157 for men applicants. hotel reservations u made. a copy of packet 3 from juarez website. mexican passport, cell phone records for calls, and just in case la cartilla de vacunas (vaccination records booklet)

What is the DS-157? I haven't read of this one before.

What are you going to include for proof of engagement? Also, are three yrs of tax returns really needed? I though 3 yrs worth of tax returns were only needed for the I-864 form not the I-134?

Don't worry about her not getting any mail from immigration, you'll get it here in the states way FASTER than in Mexico. I had no problems with that my fiance also lives in a ranch.

Here's what the ticker looks like:

Thanks!

we are going next week, Groom has to work... I am a friend of future bride & groom...I will be traveling with Mexican fiancee Lupita & 2 kids age 10 & 14...

my question is do we need to bring passport original of the petitioner (USC Groom?) seems weird to have that in original form with us!

just wondering since we were going to bring a copy!

I think a birth certificate is good enough to prove he's a US citizen. I will be going to Juarez with my fiance and I figured he might as well take it in the consular interview since I'll have my passport in Juarez. If I weren't going to Juarez with my future husband, I would give him a copy of my passport that was notarized or something so that the CO would know it's the real deal.

Also, I had a name change as a child so my birth cert. has one name and my passport has another. The name on all the forms for the visa are under my newer name (passport name). I also attached to my birth cert. my Legal Change of Name document issued by the state of California. My case is a bit different bc of my name.

This is a check list I created to help me organize all the paperwork for my fiance's interview in Juarez. Please let me know if I'm missing anything.

I hope this helps others organize their paperwork. I've attached the list as a PDF.

Invitation (original & 3 copies)

Interview appointment

ASC appointment

Medical appointment

Beneficiary’s passport (original & 1 copy)

2 DS-260 Forms

$350 Receipt Fee (original & 3 copies)

2 DS-156 Forms

2 DS-156K Forms

Beneficiary’s Birth Certificate (original & 3 copies)

Antecedentes no penales (original & 3 copies)

Beneficiary’s Intent to Marry Letter (3 originals)

Petitioner’s Intent to Marry Letter (3 originals)

Itineraries and Ticket Stubs (original & 1 copy)

Skype Records (original & 1 copy)

Text Messages (original & 1 copy)

Pictures (2 originals)

2 I-134 Forms “Affidavit of Support”

Employment Verification Letter (original & 2 copy)

Pay Stubs (original & 1 copy)

Tax Return 2010 (original & 1 copy)

Bank Letter (original & 1 copy)

Petitioner’s Birth Certificate (original & 1 copy)

Petitioner’s Passport (original & 1 copy)

Medical paper work: Form MEXWIDE 202

Beneficiary’s: 2 passport style pictures

By "Invitation" I mean "Packet 3" Letter

This is a check list I created to help me organize all the paperwork for my fiance's interview in Juarez. Please let me know if I'm missing anything.

I hope this helps others organize their paperwork. I've attached the list as a PDF.

Invitation (original & 3 copies)

Interview appointment

ASC appointment

Medical appointment

Beneficiary’s passport (original & 1 copy)

2 DS-260 Forms

$350 Receipt Fee (original & 3 copies)

2 DS-156 Forms

2 DS-156K Forms

Beneficiary’s Birth Certificate (original & 3 copies)

Antecedentes no penales (original & 3 copies)

Beneficiary’s Intent to Marry Letter (3 originals)

Petitioner’s Intent to Marry Letter (3 originals)

Itineraries and Ticket Stubs (original & 1 copy)

Skype Records (original & 1 copy)

Text Messages (original & 1 copy)

Pictures (2 originals)

2 I-134 Forms “Affidavit of Support”

Employment Verification Letter (original & 2 copy)

Pay Stubs (original & 1 copy)

Tax Return 2010 (original & 1 copy)

Bank Letter (original & 1 copy)

Petitioner’s Birth Certificate (original & 1 copy)

Petitioner’s Passport (original & 1 copy)

Medical paper work: Form MEXWIDE 202

Beneficiary’s: 2 passport style pictures

K-1 Visa Check List.pdf

Your fiance will need the letter you just received (this is "Packet 3") AND also the DS-260 confirmation page (this is a paper you print once finished with the DS-260 form...it has 2 bar codes at the bottom and it says "This is not a visa").

I'm under the impression that you need the "packet 3" letter to get in the Consulate.

Better be safe and scan the "Packet 3" letter and sent it. Better to have too many papers than missing one. I'm going to give my fiance in Mexico everything I received in the US by mail (NOA 1, NOA 2, NVC letter, & "Packet 3").

I believe that they took the HIV/Aids off the list awhile ago.

As for TB, it is my understanding that if she came out positive, she would only have to prove that she has started treatment, which takes 6 months. That you could still pass, POE, just not AOS until cleared up.

I think though, to ease your fears, it really comes down to ... does this complete stranger - the CO - believe you, have you provided enough evidence that the relationship is undeniable.

As for criminal record or previous overstay ... he wouldve been denied already if this was the case.

Thanks for the update about HIV/AIDS and TB!

make sure income is above $20K, they dont want immigrant to be a burden, check requirements for income or assets

A positive TB test and HIV/AIDS would result in a denial (I remember reading this on a gov't website). I haven't read anything about Juarez though...

I SEE I JUST LOOKED AT YOUR TIMELINE. LOL. WELL I WILL BE TAKING THE BUS FROM CHICAGO. SHE WILL BE FLYING FROM GDL. FLIGHTS TO CDJ FROM CHICAGO RUN AT 900 BUCKS ROUNDTRIP. WE HOPE THAT NO ONE GETS AN AR OR EVEN A WAIVER BUT SOLO DIOS SABE. ALL THERE IS LEFT IS FOR YOU TO STAY AT HOTEL IBIS NICE HOTEL REALLY CHEAP BTW PAID 4 NIGHTS FOR 165 DLS. LOL. HECK MAYBE WE CAN HANG OUT.

WOW! $165 for 4 nights?!?! That's a great deal! I've been looking at La Quinta just because it's the one I've hear/read the most on. Is Hotel Ibis really close to the Consulate...walking distance? I'll try to Google map it.

$900 round trip to Juarez is a CRAZY amount. I bet it's cheaper if you fly down to GDL and take the Vivaaerobus to Juarez! I've also heard of people flying down to El Paso and taking a taxi to Juarez (it's cheaper I've heard).

Ojalá todo salga bien y no tengamos demoras. ¿Qué oficina de DHL seleccionaste? Nosotros seleccionamos la de Guadalajara-Arcos Milenium. No queremos estar en Ciudad Juárez por mucho tiempo.

¡Buena suerte! Maybe we will run into each other!