Scandinavians

[Alaska2012 462]

How is your son doing? I have a ten year old, I hope everything will be ok. I was hoping to be in the US before school starts in September, yeah right...

Now I'm hoping to be there before christmas.

He is starting to look forward to a lot of things, but of course very sad to leave all his friends. I feel so excited and at the same time it breaks my heart to take him "away" from all his friends and family...But he is being a great sport! Also considering that we have been waiting for so long for some news, I can't really say exactly when we leave...

I know this will be a great learning experience (for both of us) and that he will make new friends, but it's still hard...

My son is doing good but he is lonely. He knows some english but it seems like adults understand him better than other kids and that has made him very shy. With that said he can't wait for school to start at the end of august, cause he knows his english will improve fast plus he will be among kids and make friends. As a mum it breaks my heart seeing him play alone with his toys outside and you can see him look at other kids playing... I offered to be with him if he wanna go over and say hi but he doesn't want that. At the playground he often plays along side with other kids but not with them. But even though he is a bit loneley he still loves it over here, I was the one crying back home when he said goodbye to all his friends, not him, yes he misses them but he still thinks of this as a big adventure. I just hope his positiv attitude will remain once school start. I'm so nervous about school it's not even funny, i'm trying not to let my son see it but I do wonder how he will cope. At first they wanted him to start 2nd grade since they start school a year earlier over here, but I convinced them to let him start 1st grade, which is what he would have started in Sweden. They also have very long days, they start at 8.50 and end at 3.30 in 1st grade!!

The principal in the school seemed very nice and it sounded like they were used to students like my son, and my husband has made sure he wont be working the first 3 weeks of school so that I can be with my son in class if he wants me and my husband will be home with the baby. When you have kids there are so many more things to take in consideration.

Heads up as a parent, you will need your sons birth certificate when he starts school, you will also need his immunization record... among other things, but make sure you have copies of them.

Besides they are very ####### about birth certificates over here so get a bunch of copies with you, for the both of you!

[GandK 168]

I sent an email to the IV unit stockholm embassy yesterday ( I am impatient I know :-D )

They got back to me today saying that my visa is issued and my passport will be sent out tomorrow! They are really efficient!

[MissK 5]

My son is doing good but he is lonely. He knows some english but it seems like adults understand him better than other kids and that has made him very shy. With that said he can't wait for school to start at the end of august, cause he knows his english will improve fast plus he will be among kids and make friends. As a mum it breaks my heart seeing him play alone with his toys outside and you can see him look at other kids playing... I offered to be with him if he wanna go over and say hi but he doesn't want that. At the playground he often plays along side with other kids but not with them. But even though he is a bit loneley he still loves it over here, I was the one crying back home when he said goodbye to all his friends, not him, yes he misses them but he still thinks of this as a big adventure. I just hope his positiv attitude will remain once school start. I'm so nervous about school it's not even funny, i'm trying not to let my son see it but I do wonder how he will cope. At first they wanted him to start 2nd grade since they start school a year earlier over here, but I convinced them to let him start 1st grade, which is what he would have started in Sweden. They also have very long days, they start at 8.50 and end at 3.30 in 1st grade!!

The principal in the school seemed very nice and it sounded like they were used to students like my son, and my husband has made sure he wont be working the first 3 weeks of school so that I can be with my son in class if he wants me and my husband will be home with the baby. When you have kids there are so many more things to take in consideration.

Heads up as a parent, you will need your sons birth certificate when he starts school, you will also need his immunization record... among other things, but make sure you have copies of them.

Besides they are very ####### about birth certificates over here so get a bunch of copies with you, for the both of you!

Thanks for sharing! I really understand what you are going through.

But I'm positive he will make friends in school. And his language skills will get better fast as soon as he's hearing it all day and interact with other kids. It's not easy approaching other kids playing if youre not really outgoing(and have the language barrier)

My son has always been shy but he is practicing and getting better. He is most scared about not understanding what they say. Oh, guess whos gonna cry his first day of school?? Of course after he leaves. In front of him I'm strong and positive and keep a happy face!

I'm going to get a lot of copies of birth certificates. Any other information you get please pass it along!

[Mr. Borkström 63]

My wife just got off the phone with Liam at the NVC. He seemed courteous and professional (we're skyping right now and she had him on speaker phone). He said NVC will schedule an interview at the embassy when they receive available slots from the consulate. He said me and my wife both will get an e-mail when the interview has been scheduled. And yes, he confirmed that our case was completed on July 2nd. Apparently the physical papers are still at the NVC.

[Alaska2012 462]

My wife just got off the phone with Liam at the NVC. He seemed courteous and professional (we're skyping right now and she had him on speaker phone). He said NVC will schedule an interview at the embassy when they receive available slots from the consulate. He said me and my wife both will get an e-mail when the interview has been scheduled. And yes, he confirmed that our case was completed on July 2nd. Apparently the physical papers are still at the NVC.

They wont send any papers to Stockholm until they have scheduled an interview, at least that is what I was told by the NVC. Have you emailed the embassy? I did that when I was waiting to get my interview date. I never asked them to give me an earlier date or anything but I did ask them to hurry up and inform me of when the interview would take place, cause to be honset they sit on that information a little longer than they have too Anyways... afer sending that email I was told the date within a couple of days... I still had to wait to go there but at least I had a date I could focus on.

[Alaska2012 462]

Thanks for sharing! I really understand what you are going through.

But I'm positive he will make friends in school. And his language skills will get better fast as soon as he's hearing it all day and interact with other kids. It's not easy approaching other kids playing if youre not really outgoing(and have the language barrier)

My son has always been shy but he is practicing and getting better. He is most scared about not understanding what they say. Oh, guess whos gonna cry his first day of school?? Of course after he leaves. In front of him I'm strong and positive and keep a happy face!

I'm going to get a lot of copies of birth certificates. Any other information you get please pass it along!

I am registering my son at school 2mrw, I'll let you know if there is anything you need to know!

[Mr. Borkström 63]

They wont send any papers to Stockholm until they have scheduled an interview, at least that is what I was told by the NVC. Have you emailed the embassy? I did that when I was waiting to get my interview date. I never asked them to give me an earlier date or anything but I did ask them to hurry up and inform me of when the interview would take place, cause to be honset they sit on that information a little longer than they have too Anyways... afer sending that email I was told the date within a couple of days... I still had to wait to go there but at least I had a date I could focus on.

I did email the embassy last week. Yesterday this is the reply I got:

Dear Sir,

We have checked our records and we have not yet received your case from the National Visa Center (NVC). Once NVC receives the petition from USCIS, NVC will send the applicant a detailed list of supporting documents needed to apply for the immigrant visa. The NVC will also send the visa applicant the form DS-3032, Choice of Address and Agent Form and the petitioner an Affidavit of Support with the processing fee bill.

Upon completion, the NVC will forward the petition to the U.S. Embassy in Stockholm. Please note that the NVC will also be responsible for scheduling the applicant for an interview at the Embassy.

If you have a case number, you should reach out directly to NVC for any status updates.

You can contact NVC at the following e-mail address: NVCINQUIRY@state.gov

In order to ensure a prompt response:

 The Subject Line of the e-mail should be the relevant NVC Case Number.

 Provide the applicant’s name and date of birth and the petitioner’s name and date of birth.

Only once we have received your case file can we re-schedule an appointment or schedule if you for some reason were not scheduled.

Sincerely,

Immigrant Visa Unit

That's why my wife called the NVC last night and was told the information I posted in my previous post.

Fingers crossed that something will happen soon.

They wont send any papers to Stockholm until they have scheduled an interview, at least that is what I was told by the NVC. Have you emailed the embassy? I did that when I was waiting to get my interview date. I never asked them to give me an earlier date or anything but I did ask them to hurry up and inform me of when the interview would take place, cause to be honset they sit on that information a little longer than they have too Anyways... afer sending that email I was told the date within a couple of days... I still had to wait to go there but at least I had a date I could focus on.

I did email the embassy last week. Yesterday this is the reply I got:

Dear Sir,

We have checked our records and we have not yet received your case from the National Visa Center (NVC). Once NVC receives the petition from USCIS, NVC will send the applicant a detailed list of supporting documents needed to apply for the immigrant visa. The NVC will also send the visa applicant the form DS-3032, Choice of Address and Agent Form and the petitioner an Affidavit of Support with the processing fee bill.

Upon completion, the NVC will forward the petition to the U.S. Embassy in Stockholm. Please note that the NVC will also be responsible for scheduling the applicant for an interview at the Embassy.

If you have a case number, you should reach out directly to NVC for any status updates.

You can contact NVC at the following e-mail address: NVCINQUIRY@state.gov

In order to ensure a prompt response:

 The Subject Line of the e-mail should be the relevant NVC Case Number.

 Provide the applicant’s name and date of birth and the petitioner’s name and date of birth.

Only once we have received your case file can we re-schedule an appointment or schedule if you for some reason were not scheduled.

Sincerely,

Immigrant Visa Unit

That's why my wife called the NVC last night and was told the information I posted in my previous post.

Fingers crossed that something will happen soon.

[Mr. Borkström 63]

Oops. Double post.

[Alaska2012 462]

I did email the embassy last week. Yesterday this is the reply I got:

That's why my wife called the NVC last night and was told the information I posted in my previous post.

Fingers crossed that something will happen soon.

I did email the embassy last week. Yesterday this is the reply I got:

That's why my wife called the NVC last night and was told the information I posted in my previous post.

Fingers crossed that something will happen soon.

Sometimes I wonder about both the NVC and the embassy...everytime someone is in touch with them you get a different answer! But I got my fingers crossed you'll hear from them soon!

[Alaska2012 462]

Thanks for sharing! I really understand what you are going through.

But I'm positive he will make friends in school. And his language skills will get better fast as soon as he's hearing it all day and interact with other kids. It's not easy approaching other kids playing if youre not really outgoing(and have the language barrier)

My son has always been shy but he is practicing and getting better. He is most scared about not understanding what they say. Oh, guess whos gonna cry his first day of school?? Of course after he leaves. In front of him I'm strong and positive and keep a happy face!

I'm going to get a lot of copies of birth certificates. Any other information you get please pass it along!

Each state has different rules on stuff, but what might be good is to get tour sons immunization record translated by a doc back home or something. I thought that my sons records from the swedish barnavardscentralen plus the statement from medicals we went through in order to move here would be enough to prove he had all his shots... After a very long conversation with the school nurse she backed off and I only have to get him 2 shots, eventhough he really is protected already. One of them was for vattkoppor, which he had a few years back and is immune because of that, but since no doctor had written a statement saying he had had it we need a shot *sigh*

I'll get back to you if i can think of something more you might need...

[Eve&Josh 5]

One of them was for vattkoppor, which he had a few years back and is immune because of that, but since no doctor had written a statement saying he had had it we need a shot *sigh*

ohhh that's a good pointer for everyone! Me too I've had chicken pox when I was little (as I think most people have) but the doctor didn't write anything down on my medical vaccination form about that. I got an RFE for that when applying for AOS in the US and had to go to a civil surgeon who filled out new forms for me with all the necessary info. I don't know if things go differently with IR1 / CR1 visa since you will have your status when entering the country, but for those doing the K1, make sure that your doctor writes something down about every immunization on your DS-3025 and have them make you a copy so you can attach that to your AOS application. It's valid for a year, so as long as you apply for AOS within 12 months from the appt you can use that without having to go to a civil surgeon in the US.

[Mr. Borkström 63]

Sometimes I wonder about both the NVC and the embassy...everytime someone is in touch with them you get a different answer! But I got my fingers crossed you'll hear from them soon!

Thank you.

[EmigratingSwede 16]

Just sent 19 boxes totaling 309kg from Sweden to Orlando by air freight. It cost me 12700sek (about $1900) and that included having the boxes picked up (From Uppsala which is fairly close to the airport). It was far cheaper then shipping the boxes by boat. I had to handle all the customs stuff myself though. My boxes were picked up Monday and arrived Thursday morning.

I used travelcargo.se They were really good about answering emails, but didn't know or care much about the paperwork you need to handle to get your things through customs.

You need to arrive in the U.S. yourself before you can clear your things through customs.

You can have someone else clear it through customs with a power of attorney (But you still have to have arrived before your stuff)

You need to fill in CBP form 3299 to get your things through customs

If you have someone do it for you, they need a copy of your passport (and visa, unless you are a citizen). Customs may ask to see it.

You have to have an itemized list of everything in the boxes. Items you have owned and used abroad for more then a year are exempt from customs duties.

I do not recommend packing alcohol, fireworks, guns etc. (there is a list of things you should avoid somewhere, can't seem to find it just now.)

You go to the airport clear customs and pick up the boxes yourself.

[MissK 5]

We got our NOA2!!! So freaking happy! I can't believe it:) They sure took their time. And it's so many February (and still some Jaunuary filers waiting....)

On to the next step!

[Juha Pekka 0]

Congrats!