California - April 2008 K3 Filers

[Steve Y Jessica 1]

good thing that in the Philippines, there is an English translation right after the native language.. no need for translations.. good grief, Renatchi! you spent that much?!

nway, i really am going to sleep now.. seriously.. i need to turn off this darn computer!!

Yes.... I spent that much... plus another US$ 400,00 to have my husband's original documents AND translations registered at the General Notary of São Paulo, Brazil - besides the US$ 600,00 of translations). Plus the US$ 200,00 notary fee for weddings. It's a complete joke!

Well it states, and also in the Guides on this site, that they do not need to be translated by anyone that is certified, it just needs to be someone that knows the language. Also, remember, any documents for the interview in the embassy that are in the countries native language do not need to be translated, because the people in the embassy speak the native language.

Well, Steve, for me to get married all my husband's paperwork needed to be translated by a certified translator. That alone costed me US$ 500,00. I wasn't sure about not sending certified translations to USCIS so I hired the woman again and she translated my birth and marriage certificate (another US$ 100,00) and I sent them to USCIS.

Oh, and at the notary where we got married, we also had to hire a translator (since the hubby doesn't speak portuguese) who charged us US$ 100,00 to do the wedding. He was late (marriage was scheduled for 7 am and he showed up at 9 am - jerk!).

The most I spend on translations was because of my husband's documents BEFORE the wedding, I mean, to schedule the wedding at the notary.... grrr...

Brazil does nothing, but when it does.... it's hell!

I had to do the same thing when we got married in Argentina, Because, they do require Certified and Leagalized translations. It cost me US$600 for the translations, then when they told me that I needed a translator for the ceremony, it cost another US$300 for the translator. That is why I was so relieved when I read that the US does not require the translations to be from a certified translator.

[tchururu 0]

I had to do the same thing when we got married in Argentina, Because, they do require Certified and Leagalized translations. It cost me US$600 for the translations, then when they told me that I needed a translator for the ceremony, it cost another US$300 for the translator. That is why I was so relieved when I read that the US does not require the translations to be from a certified translator.

But on the translations for USCIS I have spent less than US$ 100,00! That's booze money for someone who had already spent US$ 1.500,00 on translations and registrations, dude!

lol

[Loolinette 0]

I just received approval of I-130 right after hehe

Renatchi, how do u know ur NVC #? do u call them or they send u a letter?

[daisychain 0]

edited my timeline. didn't know i had the month wrong. got the NOA1 for the I-129F april, not may 28. =)

[Steve Y Jessica 1]

Hehe thank you!

Yes I'm sure my I-130 will get approved soon too...

I just wonder, do u get an email when the case is transferred to the NVC?

Well, I just got the approval notice... I haven't heard anything other than that. On the approval notice (hard copy) it says that the case is being forwarded to NVC...

I tried calling NVC since it's been 2 weeks, but my case is not there yet....

Renatchi,

By looking at the timelines, it looks like it is taking around 2 weeks for the petitions to get to NVC. So they should be receiving yours any day now, then they are sent the next day to the embassy. And it appears that it takes 4 to 5 days to reach South America. So I would assume that the NVC would have your paperwork in their system early this week and it should be in Brazil early next week. And for Brazil, it appears that they are giving the interviews about 4 to 5 weeks after they arrive in Brazil. So I would guess that you will be having your interview the 3rd week in July.

That's kind of funny, it is taking longer for you paperwork to arrive at the NVC than it did to get approved at USCIS.

I'm estimating that my wife's interview will be the end of July, so I am making plans to be in Buenos Aires at that time to go with her to the interview, and God willing, maybe she will be able to come to the US with me when I return.

[thirdsjen 0]

edited my timeline. didn't know i had the month wrong. got the NOA1 for the I-129F april, not may 28. =)

hey daisychain.. looks like you are up next to be approved.. do you all think that it's too late for me to send in my I-129f? we were going to stick with CR1 but he's getting impatient now..

*tracker updated*

[LRA 0]

Jen, file it. Can't hurt too much IMHO.

[LRA 0]

Too late to edit....

I am hoping both mine get sent on to the NVC....if they are ever approved (COME ON CSC...WE WANT TO SEE MORE APPROVALS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!) The turn around at the NVC could be 1-2 months. By that time the K3 interview will have been scheduled and maybe the consulate will interview for the CR1 at the scheduled K3 interview. That is what was going to happen the first time I went through this process. But a few things a have changed in the past few years. At AMM, they used to wait for the Packet 3 to be returned before scheduling the K3 interview, now they do it when then SEND the P3 to the agent. For me, AMM received from NVC in Sept. and then mailed P3 to me in the US, I forwarded to my now ex-wife and she got it in mid Nov. They scheduled the intervew end of Jan. for beginning of May. By that time, NVC had forwarded everything to them for the CR1 and they said they would interview for that. I am keeping my fingers crossed they allow that to happen again. I think it depends on NVC on whether they will forward both.

[thirdsjen 0]

hi LuLu.. my brain is not working right now. can't seem to understand anything you just wrote.. im serious..

but my I-129F is all ready.. but it's too late to send it today, plus it's saturday. this will give me more time to think about it till monday..

[daisychain 0]

edited my timeline. didn't know i had the month wrong. got the NOA1 for the I-129F april, not may 28. =)

hey daisychain.. looks like you are up next to be approved.. do you all think that it's too late for me to send in my I-129f? we were going to stick with CR1 but he's getting impatient now..

*tracker updated*

hi! of course you can still send in your I-129F =) my husband and i have been pouring over the timelines. i've noticed that statistically, people who filed between feb-april get approved first as opposed to people who filed last year. yeah i know how you feel =( my husband and i had been inseparable for a year. we even worked in the same company together and had never been apart for more than an hour since the day we got married! his sister (who came to philippines for a visit) told me he was inconsolable for weeks. so was i =( i think of him every single second of the day. i'm hoping that we get approved soon. my sister-in-law's friend went through the same thing and she got her visa 6 months after her husband filed for her I-129F. i think there's really no formulaic timeline that would indicate when exactly the I-129F would be approved, except perhaps an "offpeak" season. we noticed that there were more petitions filed at the last quarter of the year. anyway, his sister also filed a petition for her husband and they decided to take the CR1 route because it would save them a lot of trouble when her husband gets to the US (and a lot of money too). but being together the soonest possible time is worth the trouble for me and my husband. anyway, i do hope we get approved soon! i'm praying for all of u guys. i know how it must feel to be thousands of miles apart from someone you love. =(

[thirdsjen 0]

yeah, i feel bad for those who filed last year.. some are still waiting! i'm going to send the I-129F monday. the difference between the CR1 and the K3 in the manila consulate is about 100 plus days. K3 definitely faster.. send in the same exact thing, right? i have a lot of copying to do still! i thought it was all ready.. forgot about those phone bills.. #######.. we text more than we talk

[Steve Y Jessica 1]

yeah, i feel bad for those who filed last year.. some are still waiting! i'm going to send the I-129F monday. the difference between the CR1 and the K3 in the manila consulate is about 100 plus days. K3 definitely faster.. send in the same exact thing, right? i have a lot of copying to do still! i thought it was all ready.. forgot about those phone bills.. #######.. we text more than we talk

thirdsjen,

Yes, just send the same things you sent for the CR1, in fact I sent the exact same package for the I-129F as I did for the I-130. Except don't forget to add the copy of your NOA1. As far as evidence, all I sent was our marraige certificate, photos and a couple e-mails from each month, and I had no problems being approved. it is just my opinion, but I think it is more important for lots of evidence of the relationship at the interview. This is where they determine if the relationship is real.

And yes, the K3 is a few months faster. They can get approved in the same amount of time, but the time from NOA2 to the interview is is alot faster with the K3. All i care about is that we are together as soon as possible.

Good Luck

[daisychain 0]

i reread the guide for the filing of I-129F for the spouse of a US citizen, as well as other related websites. apparently, the evidence of a bonafide marriage (pictures and such) is only required for the I-130. correct me if i'm wrong though. but of course it doesn't hurt to provide all the evidence you can to avoid delays. hmm i also read that police records should be included if applicable. i didn't include any police records since i don't have a case or anything. is that really necessary?

[tchururu 0]

i reread the guide for the filing of I-129F for the spouse of a US citizen, as well as other related websites. apparently, the evidence of a bonafide marriage (pictures and such) is only required for the I-130. correct me if i'm wrong though. but of course it doesn't hurt to provide all the evidence you can to avoid delays. hmm i also read that police records should be included if applicable. i didn't include any police records since i don't have a case or anything. is that really necessary?

Steeeeve!

My case (only the I130) has arrived at NVC. I think I will be forced to go with the IV (CR1), which is a good thing, that way we won't pay for a AOS and it's easier. I am not sure if I am CR1 or K3, but since only the I130 arrived at NVC, I am guessing I am... lol

thirdsjen,

Anyways, I sent some proofs of bonafide marriage for the I129F too. Actually, the same I sent for the I130. Only the copies, because the originals I need to present at the interview!

daisychain, you should include police records ONLY if you were convicted of something. If not, ignore that. You will need federal and state police records for the interview though.

Look at the I129F form, Part C, question 2 and 3:

- Have you ever been convicted by a court of law (civil or criminal) or court martialed by a military tribunal for any of the following crimes:

.......... Domestic violence, sexual assault, child abuse and neglect, dating violence, elder abuse or stalking. (Please refer to page 3 of the instructions for the full definition of the term "domestic violence.)

.......... Homicide, murder, manslaughter, rape, abusive sexual contact, sexual exploitation, incest, torture, trafficking, peonage, holding hostage, involuntary servitude, slave trade, kidnapping, abduction, unlawful criminal restraint, false imprisonment or an attempt to commit any of these crimes, or

.......... Three or more convictions for crimes relating to a controlled substance or alcohol not arising from a single act.

Answering this question is required even if your records were sealed or otherwise cleared or if anyone, including a judge, law enforcement officer, or attorney, told you that you no longer have a record. Using a separate sheet(s) of paper, attach information relating to the conviction(s), such as crime involved, date of conviction and sentence.

Well, that's what they asked for... ONLY if you were convicted... but the police records are not necessary now!

thirdsjen,

it wouldn't hurt for you to file your K3 form! I really think you should do it.... just in case, as a backup plan!

Hope I am helping!

Renata

[Steve Y Jessica 1]

i reread the guide for the filing of I-129F for the spouse of a US citizen, as well as other related websites. apparently, the evidence of a bonafide marriage (pictures and such) is only required for the I-130. correct me if i'm wrong though. but of course it doesn't hurt to provide all the evidence you can to avoid delays. hmm i also read that police records should be included if applicable. i didn't include any police records since i don't have a case or anything. is that really necessary?

Steeeeve!

My case (only the I130) has arrived at NVC. I think I will be forced to go with the IV (CR1), which is a good thing, that way we won't pay for a AOS and it's easier. I am not sure if I am CR1 or K3, but since only the I130 arrived at NVC, I am guessing I am... lol

thirdsjen,

Anyways, I sent some proofs of bonafide marriage for the I129F too. Actually, the same I sent for the I130. Only the copies, because the originals I need to present at the interview!

daisychain, you should include police records ONLY if you were convicted of something. If not, ignore that. You will need federal and state police records for the interview though.

Look at the I129F form, Part C, question 2 and 3:

- Have you ever been convicted by a court of law (civil or criminal) or court martialed by a military tribunal for any of the following crimes:

.......... Domestic violence, sexual assault, child abuse and neglect, dating violence, elder abuse or stalking. (Please refer to page 3 of the instructions for the full definition of the term "domestic violence.)

.......... Homicide, murder, manslaughter, rape, abusive sexual contact, sexual exploitation, incest, torture, trafficking, peonage, holding hostage, involuntary servitude, slave trade, kidnapping, abduction, unlawful criminal restraint, false imprisonment or an attempt to commit any of these crimes, or

.......... Three or more convictions for crimes relating to a controlled substance or alcohol not arising from a single act.

Answering this question is required even if your records were sealed or otherwise cleared or if anyone, including a judge, law enforcement officer, or attorney, told you that you no longer have a record. Using a separate sheet(s) of paper, attach information relating to the conviction(s), such as crime involved, date of conviction and sentence.

Well, that's what they asked for... ONLY if you were convicted... but the police records are not necessary now!

thirdsjen,

it wouldn't hurt for you to file your K3 form! I really think you should do it.... just in case, as a backup plan!

Hope I am helping!

Renata

Renata,

I was reading that when you call the NVC and use the automated system to see if your petitions have arrived, only the I-130 will show as being at the NVC through the automated system. To get the details of the I-129 petition, you need to talk to a person.

But if you end up going with the I-130, it will take another 2-3 months to get to the interview.

Steve