I am happy about the visa....

[Nutty 2]

at their stupidity.

I just wrote a letter to the Inspector General of the Department of State (see below):

My husband has received his CR-1 visa from the US Consulate in Abu Dhabi. As part of the application process we were required to submit an original marriage certificate. We read on the Department of State website for processing in Abu Dhabi the following:

The applicant will receive the applicant’s original documents back at the time of the visa interview. These instructions are located on the following URL:

http://travel.state.gov/visa/immigrants/info/info_3196.html

The Consulate Officer in Abu Dhabi gave a yellow envelope containing our original marriage certificate along with other documents. The Consulate Officer specified the envelope is to be opened only by a customs agent at the Port of Entry.

Will the Customs Agent at the Port of Entry give us back our original marriage certificate?

If not, who will return our original marriage certificate to us?

Secondly:

The Consulate Officer would not accept the Affidavit of Support from our Joint Sponsor because they said social security retirement can not be considered income.

It is my understanding(confirmed by others and the manual for Consulate staff) that SS retirement is NOT A MEANS TESTED BENEFIT. It can be considered income.

Now, we got around this because I prepared a current Affidavit of Support for myself (primary sponsor). However, I feel sorry for the poor person who comes after me and has to suffer the stupidity of the staff there.

Edited April 22, 2008 by Nutty

[tammy2688 1]

at their stupidity.

I just wrote a letter to the Inspector General of the Department of State (see below):

My husband has received his CR-1 visa from the US Consulate in Abu Dhabi. As part of the application process we were required to submit an original marriage certificate. We read on the Department of State website for processing in Abu Dhabi the following:

The applicant will receive the applicant’s original documents back at the time of the visa interview. These instructions are located on the following URL:

http://travel.state.gov/visa/immigrants/info/info_3196.html

The Consulate Officer in Abu Dhabi gave a yellow envelope containing our original marriage certificate along with other documents. The Consulate Officer specified the envelope is to be opened only by a customs agent at the Port of Entry.

Will the Customs Agent at the Port of Entry give us back our original marriage certificate?

If not, who will return our original marriage certificate to us?

Secondly:

The Consulate Officer would not accept the Affidavit of Support from our Joint Sponsor because they said social security retirement can not be considered income.

It is my understanding(confirmed by others and the manual for Consulate staff) that SS retirement is NOT A MEANS TESTED BENEFIT. It can be considered income.

Now, we got around this because I prepared a current Affidavit of Support for myself (primary sponsor). However, I feel sorry for the poor person who comes after me and has to suffer the stupidity of the staff there.

Ya someone is gonna get screwed with this, fast thinking my genius friend!

[Nutty 2]

at their stupidity.

I just wrote a letter to the Inspector General of the Department of State (see below):

My husband has received his CR-1 visa from the US Consulate in Abu Dhabi. As part of the application process we were required to submit an original marriage certificate. We read on the Department of State website for processing in Abu Dhabi the following:

The applicant will receive the applicant’s original documents back at the time of the visa interview. These instructions are located on the following URL:

http://travel.state.gov/visa/immigrants/info/info_3196.html

The Consulate Officer in Abu Dhabi gave a yellow envelope containing our original marriage certificate along with other documents. The Consulate Officer specified the envelope is to be opened only by a customs agent at the Port of Entry.

Will the Customs Agent at the Port of Entry give us back our original marriage certificate?

If not, who will return our original marriage certificate to us?

Secondly:

The Consulate Officer would not accept the Affidavit of Support from our Joint Sponsor because they said social security retirement can not be considered income.

It is my understanding(confirmed by others and the manual for Consulate staff) that SS retirement is NOT A MEANS TESTED BENEFIT. It can be considered income.

Now, we got around this because I prepared a current Affidavit of Support for myself (primary sponsor). However, I feel sorry for the poor person who comes after me and has to suffer the stupidity of the staff there.

Ya someone is gonna get screwed with this, fast thinking my genius friend!

They responded. They said, "yes, it should have been given to him by hand. Just tell the Customs Agent to give it to you.

I said, "the Customs Border Patrol just informed me they don't return those documents to us. But I will show them your email noting the mistake. Maybe if the CBP sees the US Embassy is instructing their department to give the document to us, they will."

[sj5 4]

i think.. you can get another one?

Edited April 23, 2008 by SJ

[Nutty 2]

Marriage in Thailand. I would have to go back to Thailand for that.

[PetraPerson101 0]

Marriage in Thailand. I would have to go back to Thailand for that.

Aw man ... harsh.

See if you can weasel a real letter out of them. E-mail prints are not really "reliable" sources of information.

[Verde is Scrabble 0]

Marriage in Thailand. I would have to go back to Thailand for that.

Aw man ... harsh.

See if you can weasel a real letter out of them. E-mail prints are not really "reliable" sources of information.

Wow. I hope the consular officers have learned the difference between Social Security Retirement Benefits and Supplemental Security Income by now - because our joint sponsor gets SSA benefits too. But the Embassy swears up and down that their officers know the law, and that they never refuse applicable documentation ...

[Ban Hammer 13,583]

Marriage in Thailand. I would have to go back to Thailand for that.

Aw man ... harsh.

See if you can weasel a real letter out of them. E-mail prints are not really "reliable" sources of information.

Wow. I hope the consular officers have learned the difference between Social Security Retirement Benefits and Supplemental Security Income by now - because our joint sponsor gets SSA benefits too. But the Embassy swears up and down that their officers know the law, and that they never refuse applicable documentation ...

you do realize you are replying to a post that is over a year and a half old?