Scandinavians

[Stabu 0]

If the Embassy in Stockholm don't schedule interviews any longer, what does it means really? I mean just do not schedule? Or... they don't interview any one there? If so... then where?

What it means is that the NVC (National Visa Center, the agency where the papers go after your I-130 and/or I-129 is approved) schedules all the interviews. You will still have an interview at the Stockholm embassy, it will just be scheduled elsewhere (in NVC). NVC schedules all interviews like the mid of each month for the next month, e.g. if you are scheduled on 15th of December 2007 you will get an interview sometimes in January 2008 etc.

[JLW 0]

If the Embassy in Stockholm don't schedule interviews any longer, what does it means really? I mean just do not schedule? Or... they don't interview any one there? If so... then where?

What it means is that the NVC (National Visa Center, the agency where the papers go after your I-130 and/or I-129 is approved) schedules all the interviews. You will still have an interview at the Stockholm embassy, it will just be scheduled elsewhere (in NVC). NVC schedules all interviews like the mid of each month for the next month, e.g. if you are scheduled on 15th of December 2007 you will get an interview sometimes in January 2008 etc.

Thank you for the answer Stabu.

Happens that there is so many things that sometimes can get confused.

[Johnnie Oz 0]

Hej

My understanding is that what Stabu says ONLY applies for those already married and thus applying for IR1/CR1 (and k3) visas. Recently, things have changed for those cases due to the distinction between the two kinds of consulates: appointment and standard.

appointment consultates let nvc collect all the documents and nvc then schedules an interview. as of mid 2007 more consulates are now appointment posts...the jury is out on whether this is a good thing or not. i think it sounds like more potential for delays...with NVC being swamped. Those going through a "sleepy" post like Helsinki and Stockholm will now have to deal more with NVC - it would be better to have the embassy as involved as possible since they would likely be quicker

for more info, click here and here

and here

BUT

On other hand, those of us going through K1 process still have the embassy schedule the interview. NVC's role is much more perfunctory, ie just passes the approved petition on to the embassy. This is b/c K1 officially remains an non-immigrant visa with immigrant visa-like features. Good news for us...i think. And we still have plenty of hoops to jump through when we adjust status...

This is how the K1 process still works, inc for those interviewing at the consulates in stockholm and helsinki

1) USCIS approves petition

2) It is sent to NVC

3) NVC sends it to consulate

4) We receive Package 3

5) After replying to this, we are given an interview date by the Embassy...

6) Interview

7) hallelujah...

the info on the Stockholm and Helsinki sites still refer to this specific, unique process for K1s.

so this means that the affidavit of support, police certificates etc still have to be collected and held by the k1 benefactor. Folks like Stabu now have to send all of this to NVC....

hope this clears things up...

Edited November 19, 2007 by Johnnie Oz

[JLW 0]

Hej

My understanding is that what Stabu says ONLY applies for those already married and thus applying for IR1/CR1 (and k3) visas. Recently, things have changed for those cases due to the distinction between the two kinds of consulates: appointment and standard.

appointment consultates let nvc collect all the documents and nvc then schedules an interview. as of mid 2007 more consulates are now appointment posts...the jury is out on whether this is a good thing or not. i think it sounds like more potential for delays...with NVC being swamped. Those going through a "sleepy" post like Helsinki and Stockholm will now have to deal more with NVC - it would be better to have the embassy as involved as possible since they would likely be quicker

for more info, click here and here

and here

BUT

On other hand, those of us going through K1 process still have the embassy schedule the interview. NVC's role is much more perfunctory, ie just passes the approved petition on to the embassy. This is b/c K1 officially remains an non-immigrant visa with immigrant visa-like features. Good news for us...i think. And we still have plenty of hoops to jump through when we adjust status...

This is how the K1 process still works, inc for those interviewing at the consulates in stockholm and helsinki

1) USCIS approves petition

2) It is sent to NVC

3) NVC sends it to consulate

4) We receive Package 3

5) After replying to this, we are given an interview date by the Embassy...

6) Interview

7) hallelujah...

the info on the Stockholm and Helsinki sites still refer to this specific, unique process for K1s.

so this means that the affidavit of support, police certificates etc still have to be collected and held by the k1 benefactor. Folks like Stabu now have to send all of this to NVC....

hope this clears things up...

Pretty much! Thank you Johnnie Oz

[swedish meatball 0]

Hi all-

Thought I would poke my head in here - although I don't speak finnish so the last few posts are way over my head..

Anyhow, my wife is Swedish and I'm a USC. We're living in Stockholm now. We didn't live here long enough for DCF when we applied so we went through the USCIS. We're March files and are waiting the I-864 fro NVC.

Has anyone here dealt with the Stockholm embassy? They seem pretty efficient at most things - how are they with scheduling interviews when the NVC forwards the paperwork?

I've actually been thinking of pulling the app from the NVC all together and going with DCF. Anyone have a timeline for that?

Thanks!

HEY my husband is swedish and we just received our case complete status on november 23rd so we are just a bit ahead of you. I was so disappointed when I learned the NVC is now going to set the interviews because I am sure this means more wasted time...but we will see. I am hopeful he will receive an early January interview but I am not sure how long it will take. When we call the Consulate in Stockholm we were basically educating them about the change...things seem so horribly coordinated. But at least we are almost through with the nightmare...keep posting when your case is complete and you get your interview, since there is no precedent for this we can at least follow each others cases, have you found anyone else in our situation in VJ?

[Johnnie Oz 0]

We have just received the Instructions for K1 visa application from the Embassy. This is amazing news after months and months in the DHS and State Dept meat grinder.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

What we are now wondering is this:

on the checklist that came with this packet 3, it says that you need police certificates for all place you have lived for SIX MONTHS or longer.

BUT on the supplemental information sheet, with details on police certificates and military records, it says all places you have live for ONE YEAR or longer.

This information is contradictory. To be clear, we are not talking about the standard six month requirement for country of residence. or if you have a record anywhere. Just those extra places you have lived.

Before we call the embassy: has anyone else noticed something like this?

Scanning the net, the state dept and most embassies stick to the one year rule. BUT the Embassy in Manila specifically says that six months applies for k visa applicants. that is the only one.

It is this case it is not specific just contradictory.

Since this involves getting hold of that tricky dutch police certificate (tricky for those not in holland), one of the few that you CANNOT get in advance, it would be great if the one year rule applied.

thanks for any info you may have.

[Johnnie Oz 0]

can any of the non Swede ScandoFinns confirm or deny the info below? thanks!

6 months or one year residency requirement for police certificate. Been debating this over on another thread.

thanks again!

Not really sweating it...at least not too much. Please bear with us here....

Read the US Emb in UK info a while back, along with lots of other embassies with the same info, as well as the State Dept website.

This is why i was not worried - it was always one year residency. Imagine my surprise then to see totally different info on the check list that arrived today. and then the supplemental info form on police certs i also got meshes well with what YuDan writes.

to be totally clear here, i quote from the material received today

1) verbatim on checklist

"each applicant aged 16 years or over, is required to submit a police certificate...as well as from ALL OTHER countries where the applicant has resided for at least SIX MONTHS."

2) verbatim on the supplemental info sheet where the Netherlands is mentioned as a special case (the US Embassy, not the visa applicant, has to apply for the police cert) along with Brunei, Costa Rica and Bermuda

"Police certificates are required from every visa applicant aged 16 or over...(they) are also required from ALL OTHER countries where the applicant has resided for AT LEAST ONE YEAR."

here's the dilemma>

if i do NOT need the dutch cert, i can send in the check list and forms 2moro: likely getting an interview very soon. This is Stockholm after all. applicants here are fortunate and not subject to long waits.

BUT this Dutch police cert thing could delay matters. If it's the one year rule, I can plausibly claim to have lived there for 11 months. But if it's the six month rule, then i need to be up front about it and get hold of the cert.

I wonder why Sweden of all places would have a different rule than anywhere else. It could be that the difference is between K1s vs. the rest, K3s, IR1.CR1s etc. Again, that would be odd since few other embassies make that distinction. Or perhaps Swedish applicants regardless of visa category need to show good behavior if they have been to other countries for six months!

In that case there would be three kinds of US consulate requirements for getting police certs re: residence in other countries.

1) Almost all consulates: minimum 12 months in other countries for ALL visa types. 6 months for each place in current country of residence/ nationality.

2) Manila and Bogata: 6 months for k visa, 12 months for other visas for other countries. 6 months for each place in current country of residence/ nationality.

3) Stockholm: six months across the board.

now that would be...

cheers

[Johnnie Oz 0]

Pretty much! Thank you Johnnie Oz

Sure!

Just wanted to be clear on all this. feeling kinda scatter-brained after getting Packet 3 today!

The embassy and no one else will schedule the interview once we send in the check list and the filled out forms.

cheers...

[Tomandtanja 0]

Hello all!

My fiance is American and am a Finn. We joined here couple days ago. NOA2 waiting has started... Anyone here going to Texas? Has anyone experiences from consulate in Helsinki, interview there etc?...So many questions for starters....

Regards,

Tanja & Tom

[JLW 0]

can any of the non Swede ScandoFinns confirm or deny the info below? thanks!

6 months or one year residency requirement for police certificate. Been debating this over on another thread.

thanks again!

Not really sweating it...at least not too much. Please bear with us here....

Read the US Emb in UK info a while back, along with lots of other embassies with the same info, as well as the State Dept website.

This is why i was not worried - it was always one year residency. Imagine my surprise then to see totally different info on the check list that arrived today. and then the supplemental info form on police certs i also got meshes well with what YuDan writes.

to be totally clear here, i quote from the material received today

1) verbatim on checklist

"each applicant aged 16 years or over, is required to submit a police certificate...as well as from ALL OTHER countries where the applicant has resided for at least SIX MONTHS."

2) verbatim on the supplemental info sheet where the Netherlands is mentioned as a special case (the US Embassy, not the visa applicant, has to apply for the police cert) along with Brunei, Costa Rica and Bermuda

"Police certificates are required from every visa applicant aged 16 or over...(they) are also required from ALL OTHER countries where the applicant has resided for AT LEAST ONE YEAR."

here's the dilemma>

if i do NOT need the dutch cert, i can send in the check list and forms 2moro: likely getting an interview very soon. This is Stockholm after all. applicants here are fortunate and not subject to long waits.

BUT this Dutch police cert thing could delay matters. If it's the one year rule, I can plausibly claim to have lived there for 11 months. But if it's the six month rule, then i need to be up front about it and get hold of the cert.

I wonder why Sweden of all places would have a different rule than anywhere else. It could be that the difference is between K1s vs. the rest, K3s, IR1.CR1s etc. Again, that would be odd since few other embassies make that distinction. Or perhaps Swedish applicants regardless of visa category need to show good behavior if they have been to other countries for six months!

In that case there would be three kinds of US consulate requirements for getting police certs re: residence in other countries.

1) Almost all consulates: minimum 12 months in other countries for ALL visa types. 6 months for each place in current country of residence/ nationality.

2) Manila and Bogata: 6 months for k visa, 12 months for other visas for other countries. 6 months for each place in current country of residence/ nationality.

3) Stockholm: six months across the board.

now that would be...

cheers

Hej Johnnie!

Here i copy and paste an e-mail answer i got from the American Embbasy Stockholm regarding police certificated:

_________________________________________________________________________

Dear Madam,

You need to provide our office with police certificates from all countries you have resided in for more than 12 months after the age of 16. You need to provide us with the original police certificate from the countries that are applicable to your case.

Regards,

_________________________________________________________________________

Lucky you Johnnie, if the police certificate in question is Holland, it is kind of close. I have to get one from a very far country and this country don't give it unless i go personally. In the other hand, i checked this U.S. Department of State page page:

http://travel.state.gov/visa/frvi/reciproc...ocity_3272.html.

There click on the country you want to check, then jump to documents and there is police certificate. What i found out is that the country i ask for, says Police certificated "UNAVAILABLE"

So today my fiance sent a letter to NVC regarding it, because there is no instructions at all, just "unavailable"

I hope i don't need to provide it, i am not now to make a long, long trip and wait long weeks for a police certificate.

I hope we soon get it all ready.

[SanDan 0]

Hello all!

My fiance is American and am a Finn. We joined here couple days ago. NOA2 waiting has started... Anyone here going to Texas? Has anyone experiences from consulate in Helsinki, interview there etc?...So many questions for starters....

Regards,

Tanja & Tom

Moi Tanja ja Tom! Tervetuloa joukkoomme iloiseen Vastasin sun privaan myös. Voisit varmaan käydä kattomassa mun aikajanaa papereiden ym. suhteen. Tuolta Embassy Infon alta löytyy vähän tietoa myös Helsingin konsulaatista. Kysele vaan, mitä tulee mieleen.

Johnnie Oz, looks like you got answer already. 12 months is indeed correct. I think there was some discussion about the same topic earlier in this thread too.

[Tomandtanja 0]

Hello all!

My fiance is American and am a Finn. We joined here couple days ago. NOA2 waiting has started... Anyone here going to Texas? Has anyone experiences from consulate in Helsinki, interview there etc?...So many questions for starters....

Regards,

Tanja & Tom

Moi Tanja ja Tom! Tervetuloa joukkoomme iloiseen Vastasin sun privaan myös. Voisit varmaan käydä kattomassa mun aikajanaa papereiden ym. suhteen. Tuolta Embassy Infon alta löytyy vähän tietoa myös Helsingin konsulaatista. Kysele vaan, mitä tulee mieleen.

Johnnie Oz, looks like you got answer already. 12 months is indeed correct. I think there was some discussion about the same topic earlier in this thread too.

Kiitos SanDan!

Joo kysymyksiä kyllä varmasti tulee tässä matkan varrella...vastasin viestiin takaisin....

kirjoitellaan ja pidetään yhteyttä!

[JLW 0]

Hej dear Scandinavians and you all!

Wooooooooohoooooooooooo

WE ARE APPROVED YEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSS

Today i got a mail fron USCUJHGFDS (forget always all those letters) whatever, we got a letter letting us know that since yesterday, we are approved, huh finally!

:dance: :dance: :dance:

[SanDan 0]

Wohoo for JLW Congrats! Edited December 13, 2007 by SanDan

[sereia 0]

Glædelig Jul everyone! :energetic: