My journey so far to DCF El Salvador

[NYN 0]

TIMELINE

March 2006 My husband and I meet at school

May 17 2008

Marriage in La Herradura El Salvador. (Notary friend perfoms ceremony, so cost is free)

May 19, 2008

Submit Escritura de Matrimonio at La Herradura city hall to get Marriage Certificate.

May 26, 2008

Follow up at city hall since Marriage Certificate was supposed to be ready three days earlier.

May 29, 2008

Marriage registered in La Herradura. (His birth certificate with footnote of marriage costs $2.41)

May 30, 2008

Submit Marriage Certificate in San Salvador city hall (I was born there) to have my marriage status ammended in that city. Told pick up date will be June 11.

June 11, 2008

My Birth Certificate is returned with footnote indicating change in Status. (Cost of birth certificate in San Salvador $3.00)

June 13, 2008

Ammend my national ID or DUI (yes, it is called DUI) to show change of status to "married" and to show my "spouse's name". Husband is unable to change DUI because of problems with his birth certificate.

June 16, 2008

Go chase down his mom's birth certificate in her home town to correct mistake in his birth certificate. (Cost of her birth certificate around $2.40)

Ammend his birth certificate at his home town's city hall. (Cost of birth certificate: $2.41)

Ammend birth certificate (cost supposedly $400 dollars, but free with Notary friend)

June 23, 2008

COIMSAL migration assesment. ($18)

June 25, 2008

Return to COIMSAL to have husband's birth certificate and marriage certificate translated. We were told to pick up in three business days but was more like seven. They told me we needed his birth certificate, but I think maybe now we got a wrong assesment. (Each certificate translation costs $40, but we were told to pay only half during the assement)

June 30, 2008

Return to pick up translations at COIMSAL and submitted Affidavit of Bona Fide of marriage to translate. First two documents not ready. (Cost of Affidavit almost twice of certificates at $75)

July 3, 2008

Return to COIMSAL to pick up documents, but documents not ready. (We had been told we would be contacted if documents were not ready)

July 4, 2008

Return to COIMSAL as instructed in the morning, but documents not ready. Return a few hours later to pick up. Mistakes found in each translation. (One more found next day)

July 7, 2008

Review info to find out form of payment, but U.S. embassy in El Salvador website no help, and phone number is automated. Form I-130 says that U.S. embassy must be contacted, so I decide to go next day.

July 7, 2008

Visit U.S. Embassy to inquire about payment. Not allowed in, told my question will not be asnwered there. Mistakenly told to call that Visa call center using the $15 VISA USA card. Call center says I must go to Embassy in person. Waste of time and money.

July 8, 2008

Re-visit Embassy, this time to the U.S. Citizen services. Told I should have gone next door, where I was day before, where I could be helped Mondays and Wednesdays 7-9 am.

Check U.S. Embassy in El Salvador website and confirms somewhat that I can have my question of payment at US CIS 7:30-9:30 am.

July 9, 2008

Visit DHS to inquire about payment and maybe submit I-130. Told need proof of residency to submit form even though I have been here since the end of 2006, and that U.S. passport is not enough.

July 14, 2008

Submit I-130 with proof of residency including flight tickets, bank records from El Salvador account, school records, and correspondence.

Got call from embassy that I left a blank in form, told to return next day.

July 15, 2008

Almost can't get in to fill in form because my name not on "list", but luckily guard calls and I am allowed in. I go, wait, and sign. Countdown begins

[sinpisto 2]

I wish I was good at record keeping, I cam improve for sure. Good luck in your journey.

[NYN 0]

Your countdown is like a man awaiting release from jail ! =) I imgine you scratch another line on the wall as each day goes by.

All we can do is wait. Since I just sent the I-130 last week I won't start expecting anything for a while...

Good luck with your wait. It is at this moment when having more people doing your process would help so you would know how many more are out there and what their process is like. Where do those people go to? I mean do they suffer in silence alone? I bet they just pester those immigration people they hire to do their paperwork, or worse pester each other =)

Keep us posted.

[sinpisto 2]

Your countdown is like a man awaiting release from jail ! =) I imgine you scratch another line on the wall as each day goes by.

All we can do is wait. Since I just sent the I-130 last week I won't start expecting anything for a while...

Good luck with your wait. It is at this moment when having more people doing your process would help so you would know how many more are out there and what their process is like. Where do those people go to? I mean do they suffer in silence alone? I bet they just pester those immigration people they hire to do their paperwork, or worse pester each other =)

Keep us posted.

Thanks.

Certainly there are many people going this process but probably, very few venture to do it themselves here in El Salvador. For example, I spoke yestereday with a friend of mine, who is a cardiovascular surgeon. He wan born in the US but lives and works here. He told me that he has filed an application for his wife and three kids to obtain US residency. He hired a Salvadorean lawyer who frequently appears on radio talk shows and tv shows talking about us immigration related topics. Anyway, this lawyer who is Salvadorean, has opened an immigration consulting office. Anyway, this guy is charging him $300 for each familiy member. My friend told me that the process is lengthy and complicated, I am sure that he did not even took the time to read the necessary forms and to find out about the necessary steps. He did not want to be bothered so the easiest thing was to have someone else do it for him.

So many people don´t have complicated cases but they think it is a cumbersome process, and they don´t even bother to get information for themselves, they just run to the immigration lawyers. I think this applies to many Salvadorean applying for all types of visas.

(para muestra un boton) There are very few Salvadoreans going through this process here in VJ, I think we are less than twenty registered members.

[eramirez1 0]

Your countdown is like a man awaiting release from jail ! =) I imgine you scratch another line on the wall as each day goes by.

All we can do is wait. Since I just sent the I-130 last week I won't start expecting anything for a while...

Good luck with your wait. It is at this moment when having more people doing your process would help so you would know how many more are out there and what their process is like. Where do those people go to? I mean do they suffer in silence alone? I bet they just pester those immigration people they hire to do their paperwork, or worse pester each other =)

Keep us posted.

Thanks.

Certainly there are many people going this process but probably, very few venture to do it themselves here in El Salvador. For example, I spoke yestereday with a friend of mine, who is a cardiovascular surgeon. He wan born in the US but lives and works here. He told me that he has filed an application for his wife and three kids to obtain US residency. He hired a Salvadorean lawyer who frequently appears on radio talk shows and tv shows talking about us immigration related topics. Anyway, this lawyer who is Salvadorean, has opened an immigration consulting office. Anyway, this guy is charging him $300 for each familiy member. My friend told me that the process is lengthy and complicated, I am sure that he did not even took the time to read the necessary forms and to find out about the necessary steps. He did not want to be bothered so the easiest thing was to have someone else do it for him.

So many people don´t have complicated cases but they think it is a cumbersome process, and they don´t even bother to get information for themselves, they just run to the immigration lawyers. I think this applies to many Salvadorean applying for all types of visas.

(para muestra un boton) There are very few Salvadoreans going through this process here in VJ, I think we are less than twenty registered members.

I'm here... : )

I sent my I-301 in May 08 and it currently is at the CSC. I am currently in the US for now, but thinking about heading back to El Salvador soon, cause i miss my husband so much. I was there from January to April 08, and only really left because of the hurricane season coming. My husband didnt' want me and our daughter to be there in case something bad happens.

So yup i'm one of those twenty members. : ) I'll keep my timeline up-to-date as things change, and i'll keep in touch when i get a chance. Good luck to everyone filing in El Salvador... as well as other countries.

[sinpisto 2]

Your countdown is like a man awaiting release from jail ! =) I imgine you scratch another line on the wall as each day goes by.

All we can do is wait. Since I just sent the I-130 last week I won't start expecting anything for a while...

Good luck with your wait. It is at this moment when having more people doing your process would help so you would know how many more are out there and what their process is like. Where do those people go to? I mean do they suffer in silence alone? I bet they just pester those immigration people they hire to do their paperwork, or worse pester each other =)

Keep us posted.

Thanks.

Certainly there are many people going this process but probably, very few venture to do it themselves here in El Salvador. For example, I spoke yestereday with a friend of mine, who is a cardiovascular surgeon. He wan born in the US but lives and works here. He told me that he has filed an application for his wife and three kids to obtain US residency. He hired a Salvadorean lawyer who frequently appears on radio talk shows and tv shows talking about us immigration related topics. Anyway, this lawyer who is Salvadorean, has opened an immigration consulting office. Anyway, this guy is charging him $300 for each familiy member. My friend told me that the process is lengthy and complicated, I am sure that he did not even took the time to read the necessary forms and to find out about the necessary steps. He did not want to be bothered so the easiest thing was to have someone else do it for him.

So many people don´t have complicated cases but they think it is a cumbersome process, and they don´t even bother to get information for themselves, they just run to the immigration lawyers. I think this applies to many Salvadorean applying for all types of visas.

(para muestra un boton) There are very few Salvadoreans going through this process here in VJ, I think we are less than twenty registered members.

I'm here... : )

I sent my I-301 in May 08 and it currently is at the CSC. I am currently in the US for now, but thinking about heading back to El Salvador soon, cause i miss my husband so much. I was there from January to April 08, and only really left because of the hurricane season coming. My husband didnt' want me and our daughter to be there in case something bad happens.

So yup i'm one of those twenty members. : ) I'll keep my timeline up-to-date as things change, and i'll keep in touch when i get a chance. Good luck to everyone filing in El Salvador... as well as other countries.

It´s good to hear from you and to know that you belog to this selective club of the twenties here in El Salvador. I symphathize with you, it´s not easy to be far from the person you love. The good news, ther rainny season has not been bad this year (with the exception of two very tragic events early in July), so you can come and visit your sweetheart. Welcom and I hope that you have an expedite process without much complications.

Keep posting, it helps all of us.

[sinpisto 2]

TIMELINE

March 2006 My husband and I meet at school

May 17 2008

Marriage in La Herradura El Salvador. (Notary friend perfoms ceremony, so cost is free)

May 19, 2008

Submit Escritura de Matrimonio at La Herradura city hall to get Marriage Certificate.

May 26, 2008

Follow up at city hall since Marriage Certificate was supposed to be ready three days earlier.

May 29, 2008

Marriage registered in La Herradura. (His birth certificate with footnote of marriage costs $2.41)

May 30, 2008

Submit Marriage Certificate in San Salvador city hall (I was born there) to have my marriage status ammended in that city. Told pick up date will be June 11.

June 11, 2008

My Birth Certificate is returned with footnote indicating change in Status. (Cost of birth certificate in San Salvador $3.00)

June 13, 2008

Ammend my national ID or DUI (yes, it is called DUI) to show change of status to "married" and to show my "spouse's name". Husband is unable to change DUI because of problems with his birth certificate.

June 16, 2008

Go chase down his mom's birth certificate in her home town to correct mistake in his birth certificate. (Cost of her birth certificate around $2.40)

Ammend his birth certificate at his home town's city hall. (Cost of birth certificate: $2.41)

Ammend birth certificate (cost supposedly $400 dollars, but free with Notary friend)

June 23, 2008

COIMSAL migration assesment. ($18)

June 25, 2008

Return to COIMSAL to have husband's birth certificate and marriage certificate translated. We were told to pick up in three business days but was more like seven. They told me we needed his birth certificate, but I think maybe now we got a wrong assesment. (Each certificate translation costs $40, but we were told to pay only half during the assement)

June 30, 2008

Return to pick up translations at COIMSAL and submitted Affidavit of Bona Fide of marriage to translate. First two documents not ready. (Cost of Affidavit almost twice of certificates at $75)

July 3, 2008

Return to COIMSAL to pick up documents, but documents not ready. (We had been told we would be contacted if documents were not ready)

July 4, 2008

Return to COIMSAL as instructed in the morning, but documents not ready. Return a few hours later to pick up. Mistakes found in each translation. (One more found next day)

July 7, 2008

Review info to find out form of payment, but U.S. embassy in El Salvador website no help, and phone number is automated. Form I-130 says that U.S. embassy must be contacted, so I decide to go next day.

July 7, 2008

Visit U.S. Embassy to inquire about payment. Not allowed in, told my question will not be asnwered there. Mistakenly told to call that Visa call center using the $15 VISA USA card. Call center says I must go to Embassy in person. Waste of time and money.

July 8, 2008

Re-visit Embassy, this time to the U.S. Citizen services. Told I should have gone next door, where I was day before, where I could be helped Mondays and Wednesdays 7-9 am.

Check U.S. Embassy in El Salvador website and confirms somewhat that I can have my question of payment at US CIS 7:30-9:30 am.

July 9, 2008

Visit DHS to inquire about payment and maybe submit I-130. Told need proof of residency to submit form even though I have been here since the end of 2006, and that U.S. passport is not enough.

July 14, 2008

Submit I-130 with proof of residency including flight tickets, bank records from El Salvador account, school records, and correspondence.

Got call from embassy that I left a blank in form, told to return next day.

July 15, 2008

Almost can't get in to fill in form because my name not on "list", but luckily guard calls and I am allowed in. I go, wait, and sign. Countdown begins

Hola NYN,

Just out of curiosity, Did the people at COIMSAL brought the issue that you needed the documents translated into English?

When I received packet 3 from the US Embassy in El Salvador, they sent me a check list with the documents that I needed to submit but they never mentioned that an English translation was required for this documents, so I did not get any documents translated. I don´t think they require translations at least for K1.