Scandinavians

[jaycali 415]

Korean food and Hawaii? Now I'm green with envy.

Looking forward to bulgogi and island living!

Grattis!

Tack så mycket, härligt med framsteg!

Edited June 20, 2012 by jaejayC

[LlamaInvasion 76]

Llamainvasion, you're born in Korea? My wife was born there too, but naturalized US citizen now. Her family is as Korean as they come though lol. I LOVE the food!!

Indeed, I was born there. I was adopted to Norway as an infant, though, so don't have many ties to there beyond obviously looking Asian. XD

[Alaska2012 462]

If memory serves me right, my brother and his g/f said to either

take the subway from Centralstation or Slussen to Karlaplan (I think it was Karlaplan) and then walk down the street towards Berwaldhallen, which is really close to the embassy,

- or -

to take bus #69 to Dag Hammarskjöld's gata.

Either or will work, but I'd say the bus is the easiest, it will drop you off right outside the embassy!

[Alaska2012 462]

Are you from Stockholm? I'll be staying at a hotel in Östermalm the night before the interview.. Any idea if that's walking distance? Also, Is it hard to get to Östermalm from Arlanda?

No I'm not from Stockholm, but I have been to that embassy quite a few times now. Not only dealing with the visa interview for me and my son but also getting my daughters american citizenship and passport... A never ending saga...

Östermalm is rather big but I'd say it's within walking distance, you know what street your hotel is at? Arlanda to östermalm? Arlanda express or any bus that will take you to the central station and from there just take the subway. Stockholm is relatively easy to get around in.

[jaycali 415]

No I'm not from Stockholm, but I have been to that embassy quite a few times now. Not only dealing with the visa interview for me and my son but also getting my daughters american citizenship and passport... A never ending saga...Östermalm is rather big but I'd say it's within walking distance, you know what street your hotel is at? Arlanda to östermalm? Arlanda express or any bus that will take you to the central station and from there just take the subway. Stockholm is relatively easy to get around in.

Storgatan. i looked it up on google maps and it didn't look too bad of a walk. I live about a 20 minute walk from the Oslo embassy, but fate would have it they closed their IV unit 8 months ago.

Edited June 21, 2012 by jaejayC

[Mr. Borkström 63]

I am so very thankful I'll be able to stay at my brother's apartment. Even though Västerås is only an hour away from Stockholm by train, I don't feel it's worth to risk missing the interview because of delayed trains, especially since it seems to me that a lot of CR-1/IR-1 visa interviews seem to get scheduled early in the morning. I'll probably be up at five on the morning of my interview, and I'll probably be there two hours before they even open. Rather safe than sorry. I can stroll around and take in the scenery after the interview. I may need to, regardless of the outcome.

[jaycali 415]

I am so very thankful I'll be able to stay at my brother's apartment. Even though Västerås is only an hour away from Stockholm by train, I don't feel it's worth to risk missing the interview because of delayed trains, especially since it seems to me that a lot of CR-1/IR-1 visa interviews seem to get scheduled early in the morning. I'll probably be up at five on the morning of my interview, and I'll probably be there two hours before they even open. Rather safe than sorry. I can stroll around and take in the scenery after the interview. I may need to, regardless of the outcome.

My thoughts exactly.

I have a question.. I've gotten my BC and PC issued in English. But my military certificate can only be issued in Norwegian since it's a non-draft letter. I know the State dept website is very specific that if the document is not issued in English or the native language of the interviewing country, it needs to be translated. I know immigration is a beureaucratic mess, but I have a very difficult time imagining they'll give me an RFE because it's Norwegian and not Swedish. Anyone have experience with this? And if I need it translated, do I just go get some random Joe who speaks both languages to sign?

[GandK 168]

My thoughts exactly.

I have a question.. I've gotten my BC and PC issued in English. But my military certificate can only be issued in Norwegian since it's a non-draft letter. I know the State dept website is very specific that if the document is not issued in English or the native language of the interviewing country, it needs to be translated. I know immigration is a beureaucratic mess, but I have a very difficult time imagining they'll give me an RFE because it's Norwegian and not Swedish. Anyone have experience with this? And if I need it translated, do I just go get some random Joe who speaks both languages to sign?

I would like to know the answer too, however I think it's better to be have it translated and cover all the bases. You know how it is dealing with all this immigration, better to have it but not needing it than the opposite.

I got a non-draft letter in Danish long time ago stating that I will not be drafted during peace time bah bah bah.

So I found the website of the government agency that deals with the military service in Denmark "Beredskabs Styrelsen" 2-3 days ago.

I wrote an email to them asking if I can request a non-drafted certificate preferably issued in English.

I never got a reply for that e-mail but today a letter arrived in my mailbox from Beredskabs Styrelsen with a shiny confirmation letter written in English that I will not be conscripted for active service in peacetime.

Instead, I am transferred to the personnel services of the Rescue Preparedness, where I will be listed until my fiftieth year.

So try to contact your governmental body that issues the letter you already have. They are generally very helpful in Scandinavia.

Now if the CSC and NVC were half as efficient as this, I would have my visa in a week....

Edited June 22, 2012 by GandK

[jaycali 415]

I would like to know the answer too, however I think it's better to be have it translated and cover all the bases. You know how it is dealing with all this immigration, better to have it but not needing it than the opposite.I got a non-draft letter in Danish long time ago stating that I will not be drafted during peace time bah bah bah.So I found the website of the government agency that deals with the military service in Denmark "Beredskabs Styrelsen" 2-3 days ago. I wrote an email to them asking if I can request a non-drafted certificate preferably issued in English.I never got a reply for that e-mail but today a letter arrived in my mailbox from Beredskabs Styrelsen with a shiny confirmation letter written in English that I will not be conscripted for active service in peacetime.Instead, I am transferred to the personnel services of the Rescue Preparedness, where I will be listed until my fiftieth year. So try to contact your governmental body that issues the letter you already have. They are generally very helpful in Scandinavia.Now if the CSC and NVC were half as efficient as this, I would have my visa in a week....

Thanks! I spoke to vernepliktsverket here today and they said they only issue generic "non-draft" letters in Norwegian, and that only detailed military records will be translated. She actually told me to go get it translated on my own. But she did tell me I'll have it in 1 - 2 business days so thumbs up for that.

I suppose I'll just have my boss translate and swear and testify and all that that he's bilingual and competent.

I'm exempt in peace time til I'm 44

Edited June 22, 2012 by jaejayC

[LlamaInvasion 76]

I translated all my own documents, and then included a note and a signature certifying that I was fluent in both languages and that the above was a true and correct translation of the enclosed document. There's an example somewhere on VJ (in the Guides, maybe?) that I used as a template.

[Mr. Borkström 63]

Glad Midsommar!

[Eve&Josh 5]

I translated all my own documents, and then included a note and a signature certifying that I was fluent in both languages and that the above was a true and correct translation of the enclosed document. There's an example somewhere on VJ (in the Guides, maybe?) that I used as a template.

That's what I did as well, it seems that there's no need for official translations. As with so many things in the US, as long as you "hereby swear and certify" blah blah blah, it's plenty I hadn't ever been to a public notary until I had to get papers notarized for AOS, and I thought it was kinda amusing when again, I was asked to swear that the papers are correct and true.

Happy Midsummer everyone!

[Eve&Josh 5]

Does anyone know if pictures are really necessary to bring to the interview? I don't want to go have a bunch of them printed out to take if nobody's even going to look at them. I have some pics and hotel receipts, etc. from when Juha visited me in March, but I remember reading somewhere that you shouldn't use stuff as evidence that shows the beneficiary visiting the US after the K-1 was filed, but I don't know how true that is...

I flew over to the US maybe a week or two after I got my NOA2 to spend the summer with Josh (and to wait it out with him, little did we know we'd get our NOA2 much faster than estimated), and used those boarding passes and pics at the interview. I don't think they even looked at them though . I think the most interesting part about the interview was talking with the other people in the waiting room. The interview itself was a breeze, and I don't think I spent more than maybe an hour to be in and out the door

[MissK 5]

I know what you mean. I have yet to read about anyone spending more than 5 cozy minutes at the Stockholm embassy. At the same time, the fact that just one single individual can pretty much make or break the entire rest of your life is quite a scary thought. I'm not expecting any problems either, but I'll be on edge til it's over.

This is exactly how I feel! I don't think there is a single little thing about us that will make them deny our application. But until someone says that I'm approved I will be very nervous. And I'm gonna be loaded with the evidence I do have. It makes me nervous seeing people talking about Skype/facebook chats and evidence for the wedding. Because we don't have it.... But we do have boarding pass, passport stamps and pictures of us together after we filed. And phone call logs....I hope it will be enough... What do you think? From what I read they do not look to close at ongoing relationship evidence at the Stockholm embassy.

I can't wait for the day I can raise a glass of champagne!!!

[MissK 5]

I flew over to the US maybe a week or two after I got my NOA2 to spend the summer with Josh (and to wait it out with him, little did we know we'd get our NOA2 much faster than estimated), and used those boarding passes and pics at the interview. I don't think they even looked at them though . I think the most interesting part about the interview was talking with the other people in the waiting room. The interview itself was a breeze, and I don't think I spent more than maybe an hour to be in and out the door

And this is so comforting to read! Along with Bornies recent encounter with the embassy,I really hope it will be a breeze for the rest of us!!!

Is it getting hot for you there in DC? Well, here (close to Oslo) we have 13 degrees celsius and cloudy skies tonight. I just LOVE the "summer" here. ( No, I don't)