Family-based Immigrant Interview next week (CSPA, retrogression)

[keyboard 1]

Hi everyone!

My parents and I are gonna have our immigrant interview next week. We are under the F3 category and I am only a derivative. We're scheduled for 6:15 AM. I am already 21 years old and 4 months, and I am covered by CSPA and retrogression. I was 18 years old and 6 months when we submitted our DS-230s back in 2010 before the retrogression occurred.

Here are my questions:

1. Has anyone here undergone the same experience as what I am about to experience? How was the interview with the consul? Was he/she knowledgeable regarding CSPA and retrogression? What were the questions asked? I'm afraid the consul will just compute my CSPA age as of our interview date, which is 21 years old and 3 months. What will really help me is the retrogression clause.

2. Any major dos/donts for the consul interview? Most of the experiences I've read here pertain to fiance cases. I rarely read anything about family based interviews. What are usually asked when the interviewees are a family like the 3 of us?

3. What time should we arrive at USEM? Is 6:15 (our interview time) the earliest appointment time there is? Is there any advantage to being first in line?

4. What should I wear? I'm a guy

5. Do we need to pay the Immigrant Visa fee again? We paid $400 each before, but I think the IV fee has been changed to a different amount already.

Thanks! Answering any of the questions above would really be appreciated. We've waited for this moment for 20+ years and we can't believe it's finally happening.

Edited August 10, 2013 by keyboard

[keyboard 1]

One more thing, do I need a certificate of no marriage (CENOMAR)? It was not part of the required visa interview documents that was emailed to us by NVC.

(Sorry if I had to post this as a reply, I can't seem to edit my first post.)

[apple21 953]

Yes, you need a CENOMAR and all of you must have an updated NBI Clearance (the green one for travel abroad).

Wear decent clothes. Slacks, polo shirt, shoes (smart casual).

Bring also the latest (2012) Income Tax Return and W2 of your petitioner and joint sponsors (if you have joint sponsors).

Edited August 10, 2013 by apple21

[JnB 6]

1. Has anyone here undergone the same experience as what I am about to experience? How was the interview with the consul? Was he/she knowledgeable regarding CSPA and retrogression? What were the questions asked? I'm afraid the consul will just compute my CSPA age as of our interview date, which is 21 years old and 3 months. What will really help me is the retrogression clause.

Though I don't have personal experience with this. I have a cousin that was somewhat in similar situation before.

To answer your question: Yes, the consul are knowledgeable about CSPA and retrogression. Since you are a derivative and you will be interviewed with your parents, they will pretty much asks/direct the questions to your parents. As far as I'm concern you shouldn't be worried about your age since the considered age was actually your age when the petition was filed.

2. Any major dos/donts for the consul interview? Most of the experiences I've read here pertain to fiance cases. I rarely read anything about family based interviews. What are usually asked when the interviewees are a family like the 3 of us?

Don't lie. Do bring all the supporting documents.

Questions varies, but they will not ask questions that you or your parents couldn't answer. My suggestion is don't overthink. Just listen carefully to the questions.

3. What time should we arrive at USEM? Is 6:15 (our interview time) the earliest appointment time there is? Is there any advantage to being first in line?

It's better to be early that late. I assume that is the first interview appointment. But USEM always has a lot of people coming in early. So be sure to be there few hours early.

4. What should I wear? I'm a guy

Wear polo shirt and kakis. Semi formal attire will do.

5. Do we need to pay the Immigrant Visa fee again? We paid $400 each before, but I think the IV fee has been changed to a different amount already.

No. You do not need to pay the IV fee again since you already paid it. Even if the fee has changed, you do not need to pay the difference.

Yes you need to bring a CENOMAR.

I hope that I answered some of your questions.

Good Luck to you and to your family!

[keyboard 1]

OMG, thanks apple21 and JnB.

We had no idea I needed a CENOMAR as it was not included in the checklist of things to bring that was emailed to us by NVC a month ago. I only thought of the CENOMAR thing when I was reading a few posts here in VJ this morning, but all of those instances were fiance-related.

Had my mom call up the NSO a few minutes ago to have a CENOMAR delivered to our house. The lady my mom talked to said it takes about 3-4 days upon receipt of payment. I'm hoping it gets delivered before Thursday next week (our interview day) because my mom will only get to pay on Monday morning.

What will happen if I don't have a CENOMAR with me for our interview on Thursday? What will the procedure be?

[apple21 953]

Beneficiaries and derivative applicants 18 years old and above are required to present a CENOMAR. Your visa will not be approved unless you submit the CENOMAR.

Go personally at the nearest NSO branch. You'll get it on the same day or the next.

[keyboard 1]

Can you recommend to me the best NSO branch to go to that will ensure that I get the CENOMAR on the day itself? I plan to go tomorrow. Thanks

[binashi 9]

Hey! How did it go?

[keyboard 1]

Interview went great! Except for the Filipino consul officer who was really trying to give us a hard time. She made me memorize the selective service form with just 1 read, and she asked for a CENOMAR even if it was never required in NVC's letter to us. Good thing I asked on this forum if I needed one, so I had one rushed a few days before interview. American consul was so nice. He knew all about CSPA and barely asked me a thing. Was always smiling and was so happy for us. Hope yours go well.

[erikadelacruz 0]

Hello. I've read your post and I would like to ask some questions since my case is the same as yours.. My mom's petition date is May 4, 1993 under F3 Philippines category. we already submitted all the forms and paid the processing fee and affidavit of support but since there was a retrogression happened last 2009, we have to wait for our petition date to be current and it may become current this coming September 2014. The problem is, I already aged out (turning 22 on Aug 4 2014) while waiting for our medical appointment, is there any chance that my name will be included on the list of medical appointment and can still join my parents ?

[Greenbaum 12,259]

erikadelacruz, on 18 Jul 2014 - 1:00 PM, said:

Hello. I've read your post and I would like to ask some questions since my case is the same as yours.. My mom's petition date is May 4, 1993 under F3 Philippines category. we already submitted all the forms and paid the processing fee and affidavit of support but since there was a retrogression happened last 2009, we have to wait for our petition date to be current and it may become current this coming September 2014. The problem is, I already aged out (turning 22 on Aug 4 2014) while waiting for our medical appointment, is there any chance that my name will be included on the list of medical appointment and can still join my parents ?

The thread you are hijacking is a year old. Whoever asked the initial question or those who answered are probably not here any longer. So, I suggest that you start a new thread with a title but not with the single word "help" or "question". State your question in the topic heading and then in the body ask your question. Many more will see your question and respond to help then from a topic that is a year old.

Good luck