People between NOA2 and Interview ~2009~

[lesleysizeland 0]

We're in the same situation, getting our NOA2 so much earlier than we expected. We've set a wedding date of Sept 11, 2010, but we'll probably have a court wedding before then.

He had plans to quit his job in April and spend a month or two going around the UK hiking and saying goodbye to everyone...and he's planned to come to the US in February so we can do an engaged encounter retreat, meet my relatives, etc, so we're hoping to not get the visa until after the middle of February.

That puts us just over 4 months of the NOA2 expiration, so I think I've read on here that you just have to contact the embassy and tell them you would like them to extend it and then send in notarized letters of intent from each party during the interview?

So your getting married a day after Patrick and I hopefully! Where are you getting married? Your lucky he can come over, before i even started the visa process i went to Patrick's for 5 weeks and was stopped and had my luggage searced at customs, the officers were convinced we were going to get married while i was there (because i had a tiara for a hair practice), i mean, how else are you meant to plan a wedding in another country, you cant do it all by email. Anyway, he let me in after about 2 hours of being questioned but told me that he was going to put something on my file so i couldnt come to america again until the visa was issued!!! So, now im too scared to try just incase I'd love to go and organise some more things, meet more of the family.

Anyway, i think i may take the advice of holding onto the checklist and then requesting a later interview. Good luck with extending your NOA2, let me know how you get on as may need more advice from you!!

[ohlpomr 0]

Hi, everyone. Great thread.

My wife in I are DCFing for an IR in London.

We are falling into the same boat, where we will be issued our visa too SOON as long as things keep going this fast!

I want to ask/confirm again -- its okay if after receiving packet 3 (the DS-230 and DS-2001), if we submit the DS-230 immediately, but then wait say, 3 or 4 months, before submitting the DS-2001 saying we are ready for the interview?

I ask because during the I-130 process I got an RFE notice, and they told me I had exactly 60 days to respond to them. I'm just afraid that once we get NOA2/Packet3, we will again only have 60 days before we have to submit our notice of readiness.

Thanks!

[Malena & Paul 0]

Thank you everyone for all the information on here, it has been so very helpful. I hope that my Paul and I will fall in to the same boat and once we get out of AP at NVC, our process will move quickly. Wedding date planned for 28 January 2010, and I think we can still make that date, so long as our file begins to move again. We have everything ready to send back to the consulate the moment Paul receives his packet. He has in possession or is in process of receiving this week, all of his documentation. I do have one question... what constitutes "proof of engagement"? I gave him a promise ring, but that was the only exchange. Would one of our wedding invitations be appropriate? (LOL they are not invited to attend, unless they can get him here before Christmas and his birthday - joke there, of course, not bribing gov't officials).

Best of luck to all and may you be reunited with your loved ones soon and never have to say long good-byes again!

Malena

[Wendy_n_John 0]

Hi everyone! I am normally in the June '09 Filers Thead, but I've advanced to the "We want our interview" thread lol. Which brings me to yor fabulous forum ~waves to all~

Of course I come armed with a question (or 2) . We received our letter from the Embassy that they have the packet from NVC, so we are on to the next step to get his interview. I'm pretty sure I understand, but would like to be sure, So I'm here to ask you wonderful people.

1. Once we fill in these forms (DS-230, 156, 156K etc), we mail what they ask for with the checklist to the embassy and then they set up the date for the interview, right? and

2.Is it actually taking 3 months from the date we send in our forms to get the interview?

I hope all of your Journeis are quick and painless, Our best wishes to each of you. Thank you for your help!

Edited October 11, 2009 by Wendy_n_John

[Wendy_n_John 0]

Thank you everyone for all the information on here, it has been so very helpful. I hope that my Paul and I will fall in to the same boat and once we get out of AP at NVC, our process will move quickly. Wedding date planned for 28 January 2010, and I think we can still make that date, so long as our file begins to move again. We have everything ready to send back to the consulate the moment Paul receives his packet. He has in possession or is in process of receiving this week, all of his documentation. I do have one question... what constitutes "proof of engagement"? I gave him a promise ring, but that was the only exchange. Would one of our wedding invitations be appropriate? (LOL they are not invited to attend, unless they can get him here before Christmas and his birthday - joke there, of course, not bribing gov't officials).

Best of luck to all and may you be reunited with your loved ones soon and never have to say long good-byes again!

Malena

Hi Malena, John and I each wrote a aletter to each other as a commitment to marry when we sent in our I-129F, that might help, if you have bought rings they accept receipts of purchase of those too. I'm sending my wedding invitation to the embassy in my packet as well so they can see my scheduled date. I'm also sending my contract wih the chapel showing its reservation date. Good Luck on your Journey!!

[lesleysizeland 0]

Thank you everyone for all the information on here, it has been so very helpful. I hope that my Paul and I will fall in to the same boat and once we get out of AP at NVC, our process will move quickly. Wedding date planned for 28 January 2010, and I think we can still make that date, so long as our file begins to move again. We have everything ready to send back to the consulate the moment Paul receives his packet. He has in possession or is in process of receiving this week, all of his documentation. I do have one question... what constitutes "proof of engagement"? I gave him a promise ring, but that was the only exchange. Would one of our wedding invitations be appropriate? (LOL they are not invited to attend, unless they can get him here before Christmas and his birthday - joke there, of course, not bribing gov't officials).

Best of luck to all and may you be reunited with your loved ones soon and never have to say long good-byes again!

Malena

Hi Malena, John and I each wrote a aletter to each other as a commitment to marry when we sent in our I-129F, that might help, if you have bought rings they accept receipts of purchase of those too. I'm sending my wedding invitation to the embassy in my packet as well so they can see my scheduled date. I'm also sending my contract wih the chapel showing its reservation date. Good Luck on your Journey!!

I photocopied the reciept for my ring, the business card of the person we got it from, congrats from our friends on facebook but forgot to save my engagement cards from friends I was going to send one of my invitations and information from vendors i am talking to for the wedding but a little scared to do this incase they see it as us being too cocky and thinking were going to get the visa.....do you think they will think like that?

[Wendy_n_John 0]

I photocopied the reciept for my ring, the business card of the person we got it from, congrats from our friends on facebook but forgot to save my engagement cards from friends I was going to send one of my invitations and information from vendors i am talking to for the wedding but a little scared to do this incase they see it as us being too cocky and thinking were going to get the visa.....do you think they will think like that?

Nah, I'd not think so.. they want proof, their feelings don't count lol.. plus all they want is something showing you are engaged.. what better way then to show them what you have in any form..

Edited October 11, 2009 by Wendy_n_John

[Wendy_n_John 0]

Re-Post.. If anyone can help I'd apreciate it.. thanks

Hi everyone! I am normally in the June '09 Filers Thead, but I've advanced to the "We want our interview" thread lol. Which brings me to yor fabulous forum ~waves to all~

Of course I come armed with a question (or 2) . We received our letter from the Embassy that they have the packet from NVC, so we are on to the next step to get his interview. I'm pretty sure I understand, but would like to be sure, So I'm here to ask you wonderful people.

1. Once we fill in these forms (DS-230, 156, 156K etc), we mail what they ask for with the checklist to the embassy and then they set up the date for the interview, right? and

2.Is it actually taking 3 months from the date we send in our forms to get the interview?

I hope all of your Journeis are quick and painless, Our best wishes to each of you. Thank you for your help!

[Damian&Kelly 16]

London is pretty easy when it comes to relationship proof, most people get asked a few questions but they don't even ask to see proof. When my husband had his interview, he had a huge folder of pictures, train tickets, booking passes, chat logs, and they didn't ask to see anything. They were more concerned that he'd be supported when he got here (I-134).

Wendy and John:

You mail just the forms they ask for (DS-230, 156, 156K etc) right away and then when you have everything on the checklist, you mail the checklist itself back. They will schedule an interview once they have the checklist. The checklist just states that you're ready for an interview. All the supporting documents (Birth certificate, police certificate, I-134, Passport etc...) get taken to the interview with you.

I think London stepped up some, and it's not taking near as long as it was. But I'm unsure. It's so unpredictable at times.

Just so you know Lesly, If you came to the US now and they turned you away, it wouldn't hurt your visa at all. But once the visa is in hand you can't come to the US without using it which means there's no turning back.

Best of luck to everyone and I hope London keeps speeding up!

[pdcvcc 0]

London is pretty easy when it comes to relationship proof, most people get asked a few questions but they don't even ask to see proof. When my husband had his interview, he had a huge folder of pictures, train tickets, booking passes, chat logs, and they didn't ask to see anything. They were more concerned that he'd be supported when he got here (I-134).

Wendy and John:

You mail just the forms they ask for (DS-230, 156, 156K etc) right away and then when you have everything on the checklist, you mail the checklist itself back. They will schedule an interview once they have the checklist. The checklist just states that you're ready for an interview. All the supporting documents (Birth certificate, police certificate, I-134, Passport etc...) get taken to the interview with you.

I think London stepped up some, and it's not taking near as long as it was. But I'm unsure. It's so unpredictable at times.

Just so you know Lesly, If you came to the US now and they turned you away, it wouldn't hurt your visa at all. But once the visa is in hand you can't come to the US without using it which means there's no turning back.

Best of luck to everyone and I hope London keeps speeding up!

Quick question: Paul got the Packet 3 this past Friday, he was going to bring the letter for me and we were going to work on when he is here next week (16th-25th), when he got back he would send the forms with the checklist once he got the police certificate. Is that okay? Or should he send the forms now before he leaves and as you suggested above wait to send the checklist back when he receives the police cert? I was thinking you waited to send the forms and checklist back together once you had everything.

[martin77 0]

Have you contacted the Department of State? I called this morning and they said that my fiance's packet 3 had been sent yesterday. Are you guys ready to go? Has the police certificate been ordered, etc.. and got all the info together? Once they have acknowledged that packet 3 has been sent, the application can be sent back to the embassy to process.

So, it turns out that the embassy now have my details, and they'd apparently sent me packet 3 on the 15th of September.

Mine was probably sent out early September and I never received it. A couple of days ago I got a letter from the embassy saying that they would like to hear from me as I hadn't replied to their previous letter. Waiting for that thing must have set me back at least 1 month. Stupid I know, as I should have just proceeded without it. At least I've already ordered my ACPO (check has been cashed), booked my medical for late october and all the financial docs are already coming my way. Should hopefully be sending off p.3 later this week.

[Wendy_n_John 0]

London is pretty easy when it comes to relationship proof, most people get asked a few questions but they don't even ask to see proof. When my husband had his interview, he had a huge folder of pictures, train tickets, booking passes, chat logs, and they didn't ask to see anything. They were more concerned that he'd be supported when he got here (I-134).

Wendy and John:

You mail just the forms they ask for (DS-230, 156, 156K etc) right away and then when you have everything on the checklist, you mail the checklist itself back. They will schedule an interview once they have the checklist. The checklist just states that you're ready for an interview. All the supporting documents (Birth certificate, police certificate, I-134, Passport etc...) get taken to the interview with you.

I think London stepped up some, and it's not taking near as long as it was. But I'm unsure. It's so unpredictable at times.

Best of luck to everyone and I hope London keeps speeding up!

Bless you Oh noble VJ member!! Many Many Many Thanks!!!

[pdcvcc 0]

Is there a time limit that we have to return Packet 3? We were waiting to send the forms and checklist all back together once we received the police cert. Thanks.

[MARM 7]

Is there a time limit that we have to return Packet 3? We were waiting to send the forms and checklist all back together once we received the police cert. Thanks.

There isn't an actual written time-limit per say, but it is best to submit it as soon as you are prepared. Specifically, London is good at assigning interview dates within a month of receiving packet 3, so you don't have to worry about getting a very late interview date if you submit it later than you wished to. But, for example, if 2-3 months pass from the embassy sending out the packet 3 to you, it is a good idea to start submitting the packet 3 documents as soon as you are ready, meaning send in all the forms and hold on to the checklist until you have the police certificate. This is just so that the embassy knows you are not neglecting your file and they work on it at a slower pace, but nevertheless they do work on it. The embassy sent you packet 3 on Oct 06, 09 as your time-line shows, so you don't have to worry about a time limit for sending back packet 3 response forms/documents until December 09 rolls around and you haven't sent a single thing to the embassy (which I am sure won't be the case with you guys since you are only waiting on the police certificate).

Edited October 12, 2009 by MARM

[Damian&Kelly 16]

I'm unsure of how long you have to send in the paperwork they ask for. I always thought the sooner the better. My husband waited like 3 days and sent everything back together.