NEW ZEALANDers heading to the US and their USC spouses - POST HERE!

[kiwiana 2]

Hey guys

wondering if i can get some help, thought i might start getting things ready for "that" interview.

i've been reading the guides but i'm still a bit confused (easily done heh)

i've copied the following from the guides

What to send to your fiance(e) once the I-129F is approved (Receive NOA2):

1. A copy of the entire I-129f package (that you made when you sent the petition in) and a copy of information that you sent back due to an RFE (if you received one).

why do we need the entire package? do we actually need it for the interview, i was the one who prepared all the forms and sent them to my fiance (he's the usc) i didn't take copies of the package as there were things that my fiance had that needed to be added.

2. Send all originals of the documentary proof that you submitted for the I-129F to your fiance(e) for their interview at the embassy.

do they want him to send me his birth certificate? not a copy but the original?

any help would be greatly appreciated smile.gif

you know i read over and over the guidelines etc and *think* i know it all, when in fact i know very little lol!!

That is a very good question about the 'entire 1-129f package'. I just assumed that we took it along to the interview with us incase they wanted to see everything again. But now that you have mentioned it, i am like.. why would they if they have all the stuff from the package that we originally sent to uscis??

Like you, i too assembled most of the stuff for the 1-129f package and then we did it together when i was over there this year. I am just better at getting things organised than he is at this kind of thing lol! (which doesn't say much when you see me asking all kinds of lame q's on vj about the process! )

I was under the impression that they have to send us their original birth certificate. Which i am not too thrilled about as the postal system is a bit dodgy at times from both here and there and i HATE the thought of his birth certificate going 'missing' in the post.

hopefully, others here who have been through the interview will enlighten us!

[kiwiana 2]

Congratulations!

...and I dont know what MILO is, but my girl was horrified to find that they dont sell her V (energy drink) here in the USA.

Its like hot chocolate but yummier! made of extracts of malted barley and has cocoa in it. I am drinking some hot milo right

now!!

I don't like drinking milk on its own but milo stirred in cold milk is delicimo! and it doesn't all dissolve properly and you have little crunchy bits on top of the cold milk!

wow! Am surprised that they don't sell V over there. I always thought it was sold worldwide.

[Kim & Chris 0]

Hey guys

wondering if i can get some help, thought i might start getting things ready for "that" interview.

i've been reading the guides but i'm still a bit confused (easily done heh)

i've copied the following from the guides

What to send to your fiance(e) once the I-129F is approved (Receive NOA2):

1. A copy of the entire I-129f package (that you made when you sent the petition in) and a copy of information that you sent back due to an RFE (if you received one).

why do we need the entire package? do we actually need it for the interview, i was the one who prepared all the forms and sent them to my fiance (he's the usc) i didn't take copies of the package as there were things that my fiance had that needed to be added.

2. Send all originals of the documentary proof that you submitted for the I-129F to your fiance(e) for their interview at the embassy.

do they want him to send me his birth certificate? not a copy but the original?

any help would be greatly appreciated smile.gif

Ok....I'm saying this now coz I've just been through it, and if I leave it any longer the grey cells containing this info are likely to have disappeared....lol

When I was there in April and we put the I-129f package together, I made 3 copies, one to send in, one for Chris and one for me to bring home for the interview.

The one i brought home had originals of evidence of having met like the baseball tickets to the San Francisco Giants game we went to, hotel bills, hire car rental, and tickets for other things we did etc. It only had a copy of Chris' birth cert etc, the originals stayed with him.

It also didn't have every single thing in it that I sent off to Vermont, I didn't bother copying all the emails and other evidence of relationship coz I had those on my computer. Besides, when you go for your interview you'll need to gather new evidence that your relationship is still ongoing from the time you sent in the I-129f till the interview date.

The people at the consulate didn't ask to see it, but the blonde girl who took the interview asked if I had any photo's of us together and I managed to whip out the picks I had in the I-129f, so you really do need to take everything just in case. But I felt if I hadn't had them it wouldn't have been held against me.

Hope this helps......feel free to ask any other questions you like before the grey cells take a dive.....lol

[amaciar 0]

When we went to our interview we had our copy of the packets and an extra copy of the packet in case anything was lost by USCIS. We felt better safe than sorry. Nothing worse than showing up at the interview and having them tell you you need more information. We had original birth certificates, all old passports which we needed as well as pictures/copies of pictures, copies of bills, bak statments. We were way overprepaired but the lady saw that and was pleased. So I guess what I am saying is if you have the time get the copies.

[KimandRuss 0]

It is suggested you make copies of your packet for many reasons, lost in mail, uscis errors, reference at the interview...etc, etc. It is not mandatory, but it is good to know just what the CO is looking at... even if you prepared it yourself.

The Consulate specifically requested originals of all documents so I did send ALL originals. Although not much was done with them in the end it did make me feel as prepared as possible.

It's also important to note that an original birth certificate does not mean the first birth certificate ever issued. You can easily get a certified (raised seal) copy of your birth certificate for a small fee from the County in which you were born. This is all that is needed.

Since so many of you are getting closer to interview, I did just also want to reiterate the fact that you DO need a police certificate for any Country you've lived in for 6 months or more since age 16. We were told by the Consulate that it was one year or more but the CO told us that we were misinformed by her staff.

[Michelle Kauffman 0]

thanks for that guys, i do want to be as prepared as possible, i just wasn't looking forward to writing out all those g325a's and i129f's again, they were a nightmare

i'll get rob to send me originals

[KimandRuss 0]

i just wasn't looking forward to writing out all those g325a's and i129f's again

Sorry to say that you'll have that to do after you're here and married!

I've been procrastinating about it for weeks!

[kiwiana 2]

i just wasn't looking forward to writing out all those g325a's and i129f's again

Sorry to say that you'll have that to do after you're here and married!

I've been procrastinating about it for weeks!

kimandruss: will you be sending in the EAD, AOS and the 1-131 all together to the one place (chicago or whereever). or will you send the EAD separately to a local office? I read on guides here that you can do either. is that right? if so, which would be the best way to do it?

Do we all have to get TB tests done when we live there?

i thought getting the 1-129f package together was complex but looking at what one has to do ONCE married and living there seems even MORE complicated Lol!

[cdneh 3,112]

The Never Ending Process

[kiwiana 2]

when i try to explain to people how involved the process is, they look at me in disbelief. I think the general public think it's all like those hollywood movies, where two people from different countries meet, fall in love and just zoom off into the sunset with each other. Not one sign of a 1-129f or K1 visa in sight!! Lol!!

[KimandRuss 0]

i just wasn't looking forward to writing out all those g325a's and i129f's again

Sorry to say that you'll have that to do after you're here and married!

I've been procrastinating about it for weeks!

kimandruss: will you be sending in the EAD, AOS and the 1-131 all together to the one place (chicago or whereever). or will you send the EAD separately to a local office? I read on guides here that you can do either. is that right? if so, which would be the best way to do it?

Do we all have to get TB tests done when we live there?

i thought getting the 1-129f package together was complex but looking at what one has to do ONCE married and living there seems even MORE complicated Lol!

All forms together for one cost ...$1010. The EAD is only until the temp green card arrives...really not worth the extra cost to file seperately.

The TB is a new requirement for K-1's. Even the CS's and panel physicians (doc's abroad) aren't clear on this yet. Dr. Arnold (someone who ppl here on VJ frequently use now to transcribe vacc's onto the I683) isn't clear on this. They wont sign off on it since they are not the ones who did it. Make sense?

Those of you with medicals coming up.... If you can get Dr. Stone (or whomever) to perform a TB test then I would suggest that as it will make your life a lot easier at AOS. If not, your local health department here in the US will usually test you for free...you can then send the results in with your AOS paperwork and hope for the best.

Also don't forget to get a list of your vaccinations (forgot form number) to submit with I693.

It does look daunting...but much like the petition process... it all does come together. At least we're together as we wait this one out.

[dlopez86 0]

Hi everyone

We Just got back from Auckland today. We drove 5 hours to get to Auckland and once we got to our hotel we realized nobody grabbed the folder of documents!! I thought she grabbed it and she thought I grabbed it, so after 3 hours of ringing around and trying to get a courier to bring it to us by 9am, we never found one that could guarantee it's arrival by 9am. Then we rang Napier airport and they said we could put the folder on a plane for $110 and we will receive it in an hour, so we did that and picked it up at the airport.

Next day we had our interview at 9:30am, we arrived at 9am and waited about 30 mintues until there was someone at the window, first we gave all our documents to the nice lady at window 3 after we had given her everything she said it looked very good for us to be approved. So after waiting about 45 minutes we were called to window 5 for our interview by Nicholas. He was very nice and made us not so nervous by telling some jokes. He asked us a couple easy questions like what we plan to do when we get there and what city we are gonna live in and with who, after some more jokes he said that we were approved and explained what we would need to do at poe, and that was it, altogether the whole process took about 2 hours but about 1:15 of that time was waiting.

When we arrived home today we saw the courier packet was already delivered to us, we weren't home so we are picking it up tomorrow.

We are leaving for Colorado December 5th so we got 3 weeks to get the rest of our stuff sold, which is quite a bit of stuff.

[kiwiana 2]

Hi everyone

We Just got back from Auckland today. We drove 5 hours to get to Auckland and once we got to our hotel we realized nobody grabbed the folder of documents!! I thought she grabbed it and she thought I grabbed it, so after 3 hours of ringing around and trying to get a courier to bring it to us by 9am, we never found one that could guarantee it's arrival by 9am. Then we rang Napier airport and they said we could put the folder on a plane for $110 and we will receive it in an hour, so we did that and picked it up at the airport.

Next day we had our interview at 9:30am, we arrived at 9am and waited about 30 mintues until there was someone at the window, first we gave all our documents to the nice lady at window 3 after we had given her everything she said it looked very good for us to be approved. So after waiting about 45 minutes we were called to window 5 for our interview by Nicholas. He was very nice and made us not so nervous by telling some jokes. He asked us a couple easy questions like what we plan to do when we get there and what city we are gonna live in and with who, after some more jokes he said that we were approved and explained what we would need to do at poe, and that was it, altogether the whole process took about 2 hours but about 1:15 of that time was waiting.

When we arrived home today we saw the courier packet was already delivered to us, we weren't home so we are picking it up tomorrow.

We are leaving for Colorado December 5th so we got 3 weeks to get the rest of our stuff sold, which is quite a bit of stuff.

Oh my, that is kind of like ones worst nightmare not realising that neither had the documents until you reached Auckland. That was good that you managed to get them sent to you via plane. whew!

Good to hear that the interview went well. It certainly helps when the person makes you feel at ease.

Only 3 weeks to go! Congratulations to both of you! and very best wishes!!

[kiwiana 2]

All forms together for one cost ...$1010. The EAD is only until the temp green card arrives...really not worth the extra cost to file seperately.

The TB is a new requirement for K-1's. Even the CS's and panel physicians (doc's abroad) aren't clear on this yet. Dr. Arnold (someone who ppl here on VJ frequently use now to transcribe vacc's onto the I683) isn't clear on this. They wont sign off on it since they are not the ones who did it. Make sense?

Those of you with medicals coming up.... If you can get Dr. Stone (or whomever) to perform a TB test then I would suggest that as it will make your life a lot easier at AOS. If not, your local health department here in the US will usually test you for free...you can then send the results in with your AOS paperwork and hope for the best.

Also don't forget to get a list of your vaccinations (forgot form number) to submit with I693.

It does look daunting...but much like the petition process... it all does come together. At least we're together as we wait this one out.

Thanks Kim! This TB test sounds rather muddled, as you say, even the docs aren't clear on it. Hope when Russell goes to get his done, you will let us all know how he gets on.

[kiwiana 2]

Saturday morning here. start of another day waiting for the approval and i am starting to freak out here. I have got conflicting advice about prior marriage certificates etc and really need some kind of clarification from you guys!

Do you have to show prior marriage certificates at the interview or any other time during the process?? I only have a divorce decree. I am pretty sure that when i got divorced, the marriage certificate had to be sent in, thus do not have it now. (it was years ago now so my memory is a little rusty)

some say i don't need it and some say i do. I am just so confused

And if i do have to have it, where do i go to get one? would they even still have it on record?

I just think that i am sitting pretty with all the evidence i will need for the interview and then a curveball is thrown and i go into panic mode.

hope you guys can help me answer this question please????