Our Packet 3 received (26days later)

[NYN 0]

To all of those holding on to hope in El Salvador here is the next bit in our journey with DCF.

So we received packet 3 on Saturday morning and this is the amended timeline since I submitted the packet at the Embassy here in El Salvador:

July 14 Submit I-130 and all other paperwork at El Salvador US Embassy

July 15 Return to embassy because of oversight in filling in husband's last name...

July 28 Registered Date according to letter we were sent

July 30 Date on Letter we were sent.

Aug 8 Date envelope for Packet 3 is post marked with El Salvador Post mark

In case you are counting in your head it is 14 days until letter is "registered" (I guess that means received) and two days later their response letter is written, and 10 days after that we get the packet.

So total wait for our Packet 3 was of 26 days or about 3 and a half weeks.

In case you are curious, this is what our packet looked like:

Envelope via El Salvador mail: White non-descript with "The United States of America - Official Business American Embassy (Consular Section) San Salvador El Salvador" on the outside.

------The letter inside: (All in Spanish BTW, so forgive all mistranslations)

(P) Husband's name Husband's Date of Birth

US Embassy address and unit in El Salvador

The date it was written

Husband's name and address

Dear such and such:

The following information is related with the interest you expressed you have shown to immigrate to the United States.

Please read and follow carefully all enclosed instructions. When communicating with this office , be it by phone, or by letter, you should ALWAYS refer to your name and case number, as it is shown at the bottom of this page.

Warning

Even though we are aware of the existence of agencies that offer help to visa applicants to fill out the different forms. By means of this letter you are informed that neither the consular section nor the US embassy has hired these agencies to provide such service and there exists no relationship between these agencies and the employees of this Embassy. You are reminded that the VISA forms are accessible and may be printed and completed free of cost, in our Web site. Any offer by these agencies to expedite your case for any amount of money is of a fraudulent nature and should be reported to the Consular Officers at the time of your interview.

"Atentamente, Jefe Seccion de Visas"

Case number: (given)

Name (P) : name of my husband

Preference: visa type - DCF country

"Acompañantes:" (not sure what this means)

Enclosed: Packet 3

-----Then follows a packet of instructions:

Cover page:

----------In ominously large letters is the following (again all in Spanish)

AN IMMIGRANT VISA WILL NOT BE APPROVED until an AFFIDAVIT OF SUPPORT (Form I-1864 or I-134) has been received for each applicant. This affidavit includes the official form, proof of legal residence or citizenship in the US of each of the sponsors and a last year of taxes (Forms 1040 and W2). Many cases are delayed months or are rejected for lack of such information. Please come to your interview with these documents in force(?). Read the additional information enclosed about the Affidavit of Support.

Pkt 3 (February 2008)

------Next page, packet begins:

US Embassy, Consular Section, San Salvador

Dear Immigrant Visa applicant:

We have received your petition for the transaction of an immigrant visa. In these instructions you will find the necessary information about all the steps to follow and the necessary documents to obtain such visa.

It is not possible for us to give you an interview date for this transaction but as soon as you send us the form DS 230, Part 1 filled out and the sworn statement indicating that you have within your power all documentation pertinent to your situation (described below in step 2) we will be able to program a final date for you to obtain your immigrant visa. Read the instructions carefully and follow them to the inch. (or something like that)

Step 1 Fill out Form DS 230 Part 1 (described)

Step 2 Documents you need to obtain

Each applicant needs to obtain original documents that apply to his/her person. When obtaining each document mark the corresponding box. DO NOT SEND ANY OF THE FOLLOWING DOCUMENTS TO THIS OFFICE SINCE YOU WILL PRESENT THEM THE DAY OF YOUR INTERVIEW WITH A CONSULAR OFFICER.

(then there is a list of documents needed)

1. Passport. Each applicant needs to obtain a passport. Each passport must be valid at the time of the interview and must be valid for six months. Please bring all previous passports that are have a valid visa for the US.

2 Photos We need two identical color photos with a white background.

You will also need an ID sized photo, color or black and white to present to your doctor when you do the medical exams.

3 Birth Certificate (obtained within last 3 months)

4. Marriage Certificate (obtained within last 3 months)

5 Divorce certificate or Death Certificate (obtained within last 3 months)

6 Police Solvency (?) It's like police records I think

7 Deportation documents (need Form I-212 approved by DHS)

8 Criminal Records (If you have been found guilty you need to present the judgment even if you were later cleared in any way)

9 Military Service records (If you served in any military in any country show if you are in service or not)

10 Affidavit of Support

11. Translations. Only documents that are not in English or Spanish (in our case) need to be translated

---Then there is info about children close to 21 years and those younger than 16

Step 3

Sending Form DS230 Part 1 and the sworn statement

It says when you have collected all documents you read carefully the sworn statement, sign, date it and send it to the Consular Office. They can't say when they will schedule an appointment since it depends on your Visa category. You will receive your letter for an appointment along with instructions for the medical exams about a month before that you are scheduled for the interview with the consular official. Normally you will receive no other correspondence until your appointment has been programmed.

SWORN STATEMENT

It says you swear you have the documents and that you can't make plans to leave the country like quitting your job, selling your house, or planning a trip until you have been approved and once an appointment is set you will attend:

1. Alone________________

2. Accompanied by my spouse (Complete Name) ___________________

3. Accompanied by my spouse and children younger than 21 years of age: (write the first name of each of the children that will accompany you) ___________________

Case number: SNS

Complete name of the Primary Beneficiary _________________________

YOU WILL NOT BE SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT UNTIL YOU SEND THIS FORM. PLEASE DO NOT SEND ANY DOCUMENT TO THIS OFFICE UNLESS YOU ARE SPECIFIED TO DO SO.

IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO ALWAYS MAINTAINED THIS OFFICE INFORMED OF ANY CHANGE IN YOUR ADDRESS, IF NOT, AS A RESULT THIS OFFICE COULD UNDER THE LAW END YOUR IMMIGRANT REGISTRY.

Enclosed:

1. DS230, Part 1 for each applicant

2. Affidavit of Support (I-864 or I-134 according to the category)

---- Next DS230 Part 1. This particular one is in English and Spanish (For El Salvador)

---- Next there is Form I-864 and instructions

And that´s it. Now we just have to get some stuff we don´t have, like a photo for the doctor, and his police record or whatever it's called and the info from our joint filer...

Anyway, hope this fulfills your curiosity a little as to what to expect. We are just very relieved we did not get any other request like to prove marriage was legitimate or something since we've only been married like two months and we can't even live together yet. =)

If you have any questions just ask me and I will do my best to help.