What will they want

[Nik 0]

Hello All,

I am a newbie to this site. I recently filed my 129-F and recieved my first NOA yesterday. My baby is in Ghana and I am trying to figure out what information they will want so we can start gathering right now. (note my optimism at getting the NOA2) I know I cannot rush Ghana, but at least I can be quick to respond. Will they want a I-134 or the other support form? My fiance doesn't have a passport and we were waiting on the NOA2 before he applied for one, is that a mistake? Does anyone have a listing of the vaccinations they will require? How far in advance can we get the police report? Will the passport photo's we submitted with the 129-F suffice for the embassy or will we need new ones? In short what can we do now to be as prepared as we can when our case is approved? WHEW!

Thanks for your help.

Nik

[felshen 0]

Congratulations on your NOA1, God willing the NOA2 will come soon. To prepare it certainly couldn't hurt for your fiance to get his passport and also take additional passport photos ( my husband took extra ones there because they r needed for the medical, visa app and other forms filed.. he even brought some home because it was so much cheaper there and we used them here for his processing here as well.) I know you will need to start organizing your proof of relationship as well like flight itenerary from prev trips, phone records, e-mails, letters cards etc. I think its safer to get his police cert when you are issued a interview date as it could possibly expire and as far as the medical is concerned that is better done closer to the date as well. Although your fiance can collect his immunization records, birth cert etc also ahead of time so that there is less to scramble for. Hope this helps you and good luck.

[Kanyiri 0]

This is as best I remember everything in response to your questions:

1. For the K-1, they will want the I-134 with three years of tax return info.

2. Get a passport as soon as possible! They take forever and can go through corrupt hands. You can ideally get a passport within a week depending on how much you pay for it, but if you don't want to pay a couple hundred dollars, then go ahead and apply for one now. He will need an "international birth certificate" to get the passport. That's what actually took Re the longest. It is actually just a pink laminated paper with all the same information as his original birth cert, but it has to be applied for where he was born and then they send it to Accra who sends it back. This step took Re almost 4 months, but then he was applying for it in the Upper West.

3. The vaccination list will come when you get the second packet from the consulate. Even so, the vaccination people seem to have their own list that they go off of, and the same with the USCIS people here. The lists don't match, just make sure he gets as many as he can. Some people aren't asked for it, and some are hounded for it. They just wanted to see that Re had his, but didn't seem to pay much attention to what was on it.

4. The police report will take about a week and you will get it in Accra. Not that difficult to get, plus I think he has to bring something from the consulate to prove why he needs it from the police.

5. If I remember correctly, he will need three passport pictures for his interview. Make sure you don't get the normal Ghana passport pictures, b/c they are too small. We had those and were sent away. He has to make sure that they are actually 2" x 2". There is a place right outside the consulate that takes them. They are expensive for stupid little pictures, but they are nice and exactly what the consulate wants.

6. At this point, just make sure he has his passport and proper birth certificate. The medical and police report will have to wait until after he has something from the consulate. You can start filling out the forms you will eventually need, but most is a rushed last minute thing, b/c if you do it too soon, then it will expire by the time the interview comes and you will just have to do everything again. I know it sucks to wait, but that's really all you can do.

I know this is long winded, but I remember having all the same questions and being frustrated with half-answers. I hope everything goes well for you.

Kanyiri

[mandolinv 0]

Yes, I agree about getting stuff done too soon. Even the 134 can be done too soon. They like to have the most recent documents (pay stubs, letter from employer, etc.). Also the date the notery signs it needs to be recent. So, don't do it too soon. Good luck.

[joej 0]

Welcome to VJ. I agree that he should get his passport done soon. You never know how long it can take to get, and he is going to need it. It looks like you already got some great advice here. The guides on here are really helpfull also.

Best Wishes

[Nik 0]

Thanks for your response it was very helpful. I was wondering what is Biometrics.

This is as best I remember everything in response to your questions:

1. For the K-1, they will want the I-134 with three years of tax return info.

2. Get a passport as soon as possible! They take forever and can go through corrupt hands. You can ideally get a passport within a week depending on how much you pay for it, but if you don't want to pay a couple hundred dollars, then go ahead and apply for one now. He will need an "international birth certificate" to get the passport. That's what actually took Re the longest. It is actually just a pink laminated paper with all the same information as his original birth cert, but it has to be applied for where he was born and then they send it to Accra who sends it back. This step took Re almost 4 months, but then he was applying for it in the Upper West.

3. The vaccination list will come when you get the second packet from the consulate. Even so, the vaccination people seem to have their own list that they go off of, and the same with the USCIS people here. The lists don't match, just make sure he gets as many as he can. Some people aren't asked for it, and some are hounded for it. They just wanted to see that Re had his, but didn't seem to pay much attention to what was on it.

4. The police report will take about a week and you will get it in Accra. Not that difficult to get, plus I think he has to bring something from the consulate to prove why he needs it from the police.

5. If I remember correctly, he will need three passport pictures for his interview. Make sure you don't get the normal Ghana passport pictures, b/c they are too small. We had those and were sent away. He has to make sure that they are actually 2" x 2". There is a place right outside the consulate that takes them. They are expensive for stupid little pictures, but they are nice and exactly what the consulate wants.

6. At this point, just make sure he has his passport and proper birth certificate. The medical and police report will have to wait until after he has something from the consulate. You can start filling out the forms you will eventually need, but most is a rushed last minute thing, b/c if you do it too soon, then it will expire by the time the interview comes and you will just have to do everything again. I know it sucks to wait, but that's really all you can do.

I know this is long winded, but I remember having all the same questions and being frustrated with half-answers. I hope everything goes well for you.

Kanyiri

[ForeverAmen 0]

Welcome to VJ. All of the feedback given are absolutely correct. I do not have any personal experience with your embassy. However I want to stress the importance of one of Felshen's comments .... start collecting evidence of an ongoing relationship now! You cannot have too much information. Also, if you are primarily communicating with each other via phone make sure that you have records of your calls. Most calling cards do not provide a listing of your conversations. Therefore, the embassy has no way of knowing who you called and when.

As for your question regarding Biometrics ... to my understanding it is a fingerprinting appointment your significant other must attend here in the USA once they file for their AOS or EAD.

I wish you the best!