Got the NOA2... now what?

[Chris M 1]

Hey all. So I got the NOA 2 ten days ago and I am wondering what next? I have most of the information ready to go as far as tax forms from the IRS for the past 3 years, pay stubs, letter from employer, ongoing relationship evidence, NEW letter of intent to marry and the I-134. I have not sent these to my fiancee yet because I thought I needed to wait until I received the next notification, which should have the interview date and time plus the medical exam??? I am not sure if I am following this correctly. Should I send the copy of the I-129F and all the above mentioned info to my fiancee now, or wait until I receive the next letter from the NVC?

Should she get her medical exam now as well, or is this something the consulate gives a list of places to go that are sanctioned by the US that is in Russia? I imagine a police report for my fiancee would be a good thing to get now as well?

So to sum this up... I have the I-129F application (copy of the entire original packet), along with all original proof of relationship items (plane tickets, hotel receipts, postcards, pictures, etc...), I-134, employer letter, pay stubs, taxes for the last 3 years, NEW letter of intent to marry all completed. All this needs to be sent to my fiance ASAP, right? I thought I needed to wait for the letter from the NVC saying they have my case. I think I am wrong.

Is there anything I am missing here? I just feel like I am forgetting something. Let me know if there is an older post somewhere that may already have this question.

I appreciate the help guys and girls.

[baron555 934]

Hey all. So I got the NOA 2 ten days ago and I am wondering what next? I have most of the information ready to go as far as tax forms from the IRS for the past 3 years, pay stubs, letter from employer, ongoing relationship evidence, NEW letter of intent to marry and the I-134. I have not sent these to my fiancee yet because I thought I needed to wait until I received the next notification, which should have the interview date and time plus the medical exam??? I am not sure if I am following this correctly. Should I send the copy of the I-129F and all the above mentioned info to my fiancee now, or wait until I receive the next letter from the NVC?

Should she get her medical exam now as well, or is this something the consulate gives a list of places to go that are sanctioned by the US that is in Russia? I imagine a police report for my fiancee would be a good thing to get now as well?

So to sum this up... I have the I-129F application (copy of the entire original packet), along with all original proof of relationship items (plane tickets, hotel receipts, postcards, pictures, etc...), I-134, employer letter, pay stubs, taxes for the last 3 years, NEW letter of intent to marry all completed. All this needs to be sent to my fiance ASAP, right? I thought I needed to wait for the letter from the NVC saying they have my case. I think I am wrong.

Is there anything I am missing here? I just feel like I am forgetting something. Let me know if there is an older post somewhere that may already have this question.

I appreciate the help guys and girls.

Wait until the interview is scheduled to send the stuff. Send the most recent pay stubs when you send. How many times have you two met? Lovey dovey emails and other records are just as important to proving a relationship as hotel receipts.

[Chris M 1]

Wait until the interview is scheduled to send the stuff. Send the most recent pay stubs when you send. How many times have you two met? Lovey dovey emails and other records are just as important to proving a relationship as hotel receipts.

Is the interview something I need to schedule with a call to the Moscow emabssy, or is this scheduled by them? My understanding is once the application has been forwarded to the embassy by the NVC, the embassy will process this, and prepare a letter to my fiancee which will contain a list of sanctioned medical exam places, and interview date and time. The flowchart area called this "Forms and Checklist sent to Beneficiary." So the interview date and time will be in the packet of info sent to my fiancee once the application has been processed at the embassy?

I will have the most recent pay stubs ready to go when I need them.

Love Dovey emails..... Check. We did send emails to each other almost every day, and most times more than one a day. Most of the time we talk via video chat, and a little bit of chatting for which we have a chat history for the past year. Also I made it a point for the last 6 months to send a snail mail post card every week. Most of them have made it to Russia, but we have over 25 of them with post marks on them. I thought it could not hurt to have too many.

We tried to cover as much as we can to prove ourselves when the time comes. Hopefully it will pay off.

so bottom line is wait to send my original proof of meeting, 325A, and I-129F and I-134 until we have a confirmed interview date?

Thanks again Barron.

[Terry&Tigger 4]

the bottom line is to get everything compiled asap. And please please do not use USPS. The seventy bucks you spend on UPS delivery are worth it, believe me. You ship via UPS, you get a five-day delivery delivered in five days. You ship via Priority USPS , they promise you it'll be there in 3 business days, you can have it delivered in ... gosh ... a week? two weeks? you never know

The embassy are not supposed to mail anything to you, they will send your fiancee an envelope with forms she will need to fill in for the interview and the date of her interview. However, due to the fact that they send it by snail mail, SOME never receive their envelopes. So, if you have already called NVC and know your MOS number, you might want to email the embassy at consulMo@state.gov some time next week and ask them the date of the interview they scheduled for your fiancee. You should write your name, her name, your EAC number and your MOS number in the email.

As for the medical, there are three places in the whole country where she can get it - two in Moscow, one in Vladivostok. You can easily find the addresses and phone numbers at the embassy website www.usembassy.ru - as well as a lot of other useful information.

She can have her medical anytime, if she lives in Moscow or Vladivostok and you know the MOS number. In case she does not reside in Moscow nor in Vladivostok, she can choose to call the clinic and schedule her medical for a date three days before the date of her interview. It usually takes two days to complete the medical.

Whew... hope it helps.

Good luck.

[baron555 934]

Is the interview something I need to schedule with a call to the Moscow emabssy, or is this scheduled by them? My understanding is once the application has been forwarded to the embassy by the NVC, the embassy will process this, and prepare a letter to my fiancee which will contain a list of sanctioned medical exam places, and interview date and time. The flowchart area called this "Forms and Checklist sent to Beneficiary." So the interview date and time will be in the packet of info sent to my fiancee once the application has been processed at the embassy?

I will have the most recent pay stubs ready to go when I need them.

Love Dovey emails..... Check. We did send emails to each other almost every day, and most times more than one a day. Most of the time we talk via video chat, and a little bit of chatting for which we have a chat history for the past year. Also I made it a point for the last 6 months to send a snail mail post card every week. Most of them have made it to Russia, but we have over 25 of them with post marks on them. I thought it could not hurt to have too many.

We tried to cover as much as we can to prove ourselves when the time comes. Hopefully it will pay off.

so bottom line is wait to send my original proof of meeting, 325A, and I-129F and I-134 until we have a confirmed interview date?

Thanks again Barron.

I received a letter from NVC stating they had the petition package and assigned a case number. I called their number to determine when the petition was shipped to the Embassy. Once you know that, wait a couple of weeks and email the Embassy with the case number and ask about the interview date; the email address is on the Embassy website. The website also has an online case tracking feature but I don't think that is presently working.

Anyway mail (I used FedEx, the cost was immaterial to the importance to us.) your stuff as soon as you know the interview date.

Alla did receive a packet in the mail from the Embassy with the invite letter and all the blank forms. But....she may not receive a package in the mail. Download all the forms from the Embassy weblink and fill them out on your own (know that the DS-156 form is in Russian and can only be downloaded from the Embassy website). I did the same and sent in all forms with my stuff via FedEx.

If she does not receive the invite letter, then a copy of your email from them with the interview date serves the same purpose.

Also rehearse a little with your fiance' on commonly asked questions, like where do you live and your address and how many brothers and sisters, how many ex-wives you have, all those children you fathered, etc. etc. Prepare her to be asked purposefully incorrect questions (like the time you served in jail for all those crimes) just to gauge her reaction. Tell her it will be OK to answer, "That is not correct, he only had 10 wives, not 75!"

If you have met multiple times, then usually the interview is a piece of cake. If you only met once for a few days, be prepared to be asked a few extra questions. If you listed any past domestic crimes committed, be prepared to answer about that.

[Chris M 1]

Barron,

So these forms are the DS-156 form for fiancee visa application? No when I read through the State Dept website I am seeing this "Universal application" called DS-160. So I am guessing the DS-156 is not needed now. This is what I am seeing here....

U.S. Embassies and Consulates Requiring the Form DS-160

All U.S. Embassies and Consulates that process nonimmigrant visas now use the new online DS-160. Therefore, visa applicants will need to apply using the online DS-160 for most, but not all, nonimmigrant visa categories. Review the FAQs for exceptions and to find out which nonimmigrant categories continue to use the DS-156 at this time. It is important that you review the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for guidance on using the new online form.

Of course I am hoping Tanya receives all the necessary documents, but like you said things could get lost in the mail.

Are there any other documents I need? I have the I-134 ready to go, and it looks like I need the DS-160, and maybe the DS-156. Any others, as far as documents go?

[baron555 934]

Barron,

So these forms are the DS-156 form for fiancee visa application? No when I read through the State Dept website I am seeing this "Universal application" called DS-160. So I am guessing the DS-156 is not needed now. This is what I am seeing here....

U.S. Embassies and Consulates Requiring the Form DS-160

All U.S. Embassies and Consulates that process nonimmigrant visas now use the new online DS-160. Therefore, visa applicants will need to apply using the online DS-160 for most, but not all, nonimmigrant visa categories. Review the FAQs for exceptions and to find out which nonimmigrant categories continue to use the DS-156 at this time. It is important that you review the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for guidance on using the new online form.

Of course I am hoping Tanya receives all the necessary documents, but like you said things could get lost in the mail.

Are there any other documents I need? I have the I-134 ready to go, and it looks like I need the DS-160, and maybe the DS-156. Any others, as far as documents go?

You've got it wrong, Even though, technically, the K-1 is a non-immigrant visa, the K-1 Fiance visa information is listed on the Moscow Embassy's website under the Immigrant Visa section.

Here is the page. The DS-160 if for nonimmigrant visa types and this page still lists the DS-230, DS-156 (online version) and the DS-156K.

http://moscow.usembassy.gov/fiancee.html

[Chris M 1]

OK (As I am smacking my lips with my index finger). ha ha. Thanks.

[slim 1,525]

Basically, you're done.

You should be checking the embassy website about once a week (No need to check any more than that since it's not updated any more than that.) to see if your case number popped up. Once it appears, send your copies and "most recent" financial info to her.

She should apply for her police check and medical exam right now since they're good for at least six months. A list of required items is on the embassy's website in Russian if she'd like to see what she needs to do.

[Chris M 1]

OK, to check the embassy site does this mean I send an email to them with my EAC number? What is an MOS too? I think the MOS is something I get from the NVC, right? Or is there a log-in page to check the status on the embassy website? I thought this was something I had to email them once a week to see what the status is and interview time (consulMo@state.gov).

I printed the forms from here... http://moscow.usembassy.gov/fiancee.html (DS-230, DS-156, DS-156K and I-134) so I can go through these forms together with Tanya. Some of them I can do in English, and then send them to her for her to sign, date and take with her to the interview. I imagine this would be OK. Hopefully the embassy will send her these to begin with, but I like covering all basis.

She lives about a 2 day train ride from Moscow, so how does getting a medical exam work since she is not in Moscow? Essentially I was thinking she would do this a few days prior to the interview, but is there a better way? Can she do this in her town? Although I am guessing it would be dumb to schedule a medical exam in Moscow now since she does not have an interview date and time.

She has a police report that is 4 months old. Should she get another? It is translated as well.

I just sent her the website Barron provided and gave her the Russian version so she can see what she needs.

One more thing... my NOA2 is dated July 30, 2010. I started calling the NVC for the first time today. They have no record of it when I enter the EAC/Receipt number. I received the NOA 2 in the mail on August 5, so it has not been 2 weeks since I have had the document in my possession. Is this normal? I want to make sure they have the documents and hope they will shortly be on their way to Russia, so should I not be worried with this? It is all automated, but I think I called 5 times today.

Thanks again guys.

[baron555 934]

OK, to check the embassy site does this mean I send an email to them with my EAC number? What is an MOS too? I think the MOS is something I get from the NVC, right? Or is there a log-in page to check the status on the embassy website? I thought this was something I had to email them once a week to see what the status is and interview time (consulMo@state.gov).

The MOS number will be obtained from NVC. I received a letter from them. Check my timeline for last year's timing. Once you have that and you know that NVC has sent the petition on toward Moscow (by calling NVC), then give them a couple of weeks and then you can both email them the case number and/or check the website for the listing. As Slimbo stated, they only update the website once a week so the email may be best but don't email them just to bug them. Here's the link: Well, when I opened the link from the Embassy site, it's not there, so who knows what, maybe emailing is the only way now. Not to fret; emailing them worked great for me.

I printed the forms from here... http://moscow.usembassy.gov/fiancee.html (DS-230, DS-156, DS-156K and I-134) so I can go through these forms together with Tanya. Some of them I can do in English, and then send them to her for her to sign, date and take with her to the interview. I imagine this would be OK. Hopefully the embassy will send her these to begin with, but I like covering all basis.

The DS-156 is an online form that means you fill in all the info online and then from online you print it out. The online form encrypts all the info into a bar code which is on the version you print out. If you do not have all the info, the she will have to do it online and print it out over there.

She lives about a 2 day train ride from Moscow, so how does getting a medical exam work since she is not in Moscow? Essentially I was thinking she would do this a few days prior to the interview, but is there a better way? Can she do this in her town? Although I am guessing it would be dumb to schedule a medical exam in Moscow now since she does not have an interview date and time.

The medical offices listed on the website are the only ones she can use. Most folks will sked a medical exam the day before the interview and pick up the results the same day and then go to their interview the next day.

She has a police report that is 4 months old. Should she get another? It is translated as well.

Check the Embassy website for time length to be valid for them.

I just sent her the website Barron provided and gave her the Russian version so she can see what she needs.

Yes, the entire Moscow Embassy website may be viewed in both English and Russian.

One more thing... my NOA2 is dated July 30, 2010. I started calling the NVC for the first time today. They have no record of it when I enter the EAC/Receipt number. I received the NOA 2 in the mail on August 5, so it has not been 2 weeks since I have had the document in my possession. Is this normal? I want to make sure they have the documents and hope they will shortly be on their way to Russia, so should I not be worried with this? It is all automated, but I think I called 5 times today.

Check our timeline. YOu'll see we were in AP for three weeks at NVC. She received her packet about a month before the interview. I received the confirmation email about a week before she got the packet. There's plenty of time still. Keep chillin' but start planning. Soon you'll be together and then all the fun begins.....and you life will change!!!

Thanks again guys.

[Chris M 1]

OK, so my NOA 2 is dated July 30. I received the letter on August 5. I have been calling the NVC number every day for a week now 603.334.0700, and there is no record of my application. Is this normal? I believe the timeline on VJ said 2-4 weeks and I think I am jumping the gun here, but I am hoping this is all just normal. What happens if the NVC does not receive the application? Who do I contact?

Tanya tells me not to worry. ha ha. She's probably right.

[slim 1,525]

Dude. Calm down!

There's no need to rush this through and keep a constant track on where it is, who's "touched" it, etc. Relax a little and then before you know it it'll be up on the website (that you only should check once a week.)

Spend all that time you'd be calling the NVC to write hand-written letters to Tanya so she can take them to the interview. Build your case... don't worry about it!

[Chris M 1]

thanks Slim. I only called the NVC automated line once a day, so not to worry. I send Tanya a post card once a week and several emails a week as well. Like you said I need to focus on other things.

So this website you speak of that I should check once a week.... where is this? I do not have a web address, but I think I will need a case number from the NVC, right? Or is this the EAC number I got on the NOA 2?

Thanks.

[slim 1,525]

Like you said I need to focus on other things.

I recommend NFL football, chicken wings and beer because once she gets here, those things will be diminished!

So this website you speak of that I should check once a week.... where is this? I do not have a web address, but I think I will need a case number from the NVC, right? Or is this the EAC number I got on the NOA 2?

You are correct that you'll need the number from NVC, usually a "MOS-XXXXXX" number. You'll probably get a letter from them in the next two weeks or so. It won't be on the website for another few weeks, but once you get that "MOS-XXXXXXXX" number, you can check the Moscow embassy's website. There's a link on there somewhere for "interview list" or something like that. Pretty easy to find.

But, like the other things... patience. It'll be a few weeks before it's on there.

Edited to add - have you assembled all your financial stuff?

Edited August 26, 2010 by slim