Ireland

[sabi 148]

Not sure how many people from Ireland are going through the K1 process at the moment but I thought it would be nice to post updates and reviews here so we can share our experience. Feel free to post here about your progress

I have done my medical back in May and I am still waiting for my NOA2... it's been 6 months now!

Good luck

[IrishStar 0]

Not sure how many people from Ireland are going through the K1 process at the moment but I thought it would be nice to post updates and reviews here so we can share our experience. Feel free to post here about your progress

I have done my medical back in May and I am still waiting for my NOA2... it's been 6 months now!

Good luck

You can do the medical that far in advance?

[sabi 148]

You can do the medical that far in advance?

yes you can but it's not a good idea... I was hoping to be approved in June.. it's end of July and we are still waiting, so if I could go back in time, I would have waited till I get my NOA2 before I make my medical appointment...

BTW there is no Texas Service Center that processes I129F petitions so please change your time line to Vermont (EAC number) or California (WAC number)

Edited July 20, 2012 by sabi

[IrishStar 0]

yes you can but it's not a good idea... I was hoping to be approved in June.. it's end of July and we are still waiting, so if I could go back in time, I would have waited till I get my NOA2 before I make my medical appointment...

BTW there is no Texas Service Center that processes I129F petitions so please change your time line to Vermont (EAC number) or California (WAC number)

Yeah, I just found out yesterday that it takes so much longer from the NOA2 date to interview date than we had originally understood. So, we're trying to figure out when he can visit/when he should do his medical.

I updated the service center. It says on there to list the original one you post to, that's why it said Texas.

[sabi 148]

Yeah, I just found out yesterday that it takes so much longer from the NOA2 date to interview date than we had originally understood. So, we're trying to figure out when he can visit/when he should do his medical.

I updated the service center. It says on there to list the original one you post to, that's why it said Texas.

yeah I was confused with the service center at the beginning too

I'd say you can book your medical as soon as you get your NOA2. Vermont doesn't take that long between NOA2 and the NVC so after you get your NOA2 , make an appointment within 2-3 weeks

Edited July 20, 2012 by sabi

[rayandmel 39]

Ray already did his medical too... We are not too worried about it, but maybe should have waited a bit. We never dreamed it would take this long. They were flying through those December petitions... Now with us getting the RFE, I am scared we wont be able to get married in October. Do you have any idea on average how long it takes from NOA2 to interview? I assumed once you got your packet 3 and sent your notice of readiness back, they would schedule you within the next month.

Thanks for starting this thread Sabi!

[sabi 148]

Ray already did his medical too... We are not too worried about it, but maybe should have waited a bit. We never dreamed it would take this long. They were flying through those December petitions... Now with us getting the RFE, I am scared we wont be able to get married in October. Do you have any idea on average how long it takes from NOA2 to interview? I assumed once you got your packet 3 and sent your notice of readiness back, they would schedule you within the next month.

Thanks for starting this thread Sabi!

yeah I went through some petitions of other Irish guys and it looks like once you get your NOA2 , your interview is within 2 months max, so 1 month from packet 3, depending how quickly you reply but since we have our medical done, Ray can reply the next day he gets his packet 3

Edited July 21, 2012 by sabi

[IrishStar 0]

yeah I went through some petitions of other Irish guys and it looks like once you get your NOA2 , your interview is within 2 months max, so 1 month from packet 3, depending how quickly you reply but since we have our medical done, Ray can reply the next day he gets his packet 3

Isn't researching these things exhausting? I'm so glad this forum exists. My friends are now calling this my support group :-)

I think my fiance might get his medical just before our NOA2 so he can come visit without worrying about it just before the interview. We were hoping to have Christmas together (an extended stay) and there is a chance Packet 3 will come during that time, based on other timelines I've seen. So, I wasn't sure if we could just reply from here if that happens.

Any idea if you have to reply to Packet 3 from Ireland?

[Neetz 7]

Hey guys,

Just joining in the Irish thread......I called Blackrock about the medical as i too had mine done in April pre NOA2 and they told me it is valid for 1 year, which is a relief!! I got my police clearance done in May thinking i would have an interview date by now it is on valid for 6 mths, Tommy called NVC yesterday(again!!!) about our case number to be told that it wont be 15 days til next tuesday, they do not count the date NOA2 is issued and of course we had July 4th in there also. So while we have our NOA2 we are still waiting just on a different stage. I now don't think we will have our interview before Sept.

Regarding packet 3 to my knowledge it is only sent to your fiance here in Ireland at the address you supplied, so if he is in the States when it arrives then you would have to get it mailed over as i think the notice of readiness needs to be signed by him, not sure if it would raise a red flag it you mailed it back from the US, hard to say and to get correct answers around this. However your fiance is allowed to visit while case is pending, though i think once NOA2 is issued they are a little more sticky at POE than when you travel with NOA1, go figure, huh!

[rayandmel 39]

I agree with Neetz, Your fiance will have to be a little more prepared when going through the POE if you already have your NOA2. Ray visited here in April when we were still at NOA1 stage. They asked him a lot of questions... They were nice about it, but they wanted to know if he had a job, return ticket etc... it went smoothly over all, but I would just be sure your fiance still has ties to Ireland if you are at the NOA2 stage when he visits.

[IrishStar 0]

I agree with Neetz, Your fiance will have to be a little more prepared when going through the POE if you already have your NOA2. Ray visited here in April when we were still at NOA1 stage. They asked him a lot of questions... They were nice about it, but they wanted to know if he had a job, return ticket etc... it went smoothly over all, but I would just be sure your fiance still has ties to Ireland if you are at the NOA2 stage when he visits.

Thanks, I appreciate your suggestions. He currently has limited ties to Ireland as he's been living and working in London for the Olympics. So, he will return to Ireland in August sans job and is trying to find someplace to stay now. It is really an awful situation.

Right now the plan is for him to come mid October, so based on current timelines, we probably won't get our NOA2 until November. I wish we could get a definite answer about how to handle packet 3 if it arrives when he's here.

[rayandmel 39]

Thanks, I appreciate your suggestions. He currently has limited ties to Ireland as he's been living and working in London for the Olympics. So, he will return to Ireland in August sans job and is trying to find someplace to stay now. It is really an awful situation.

Right now the plan is for him to come mid October, so based on current timelines, we probably won't get our NOA2 until November. I wish we could get a definite answer about how to handle packet 3 if it arrives when he's here.

If the Packet 3 arrives when he is here, you could have a relative or friend fax you guys all of the contents of Packet 3 to you in the states. Look it over and makes sure you understand everything. Go ahead and send the letter of readiness from the states, BUT I would have your fiance sign the bottom in blue ink so they know it is a valid signature. I am not sure how strict they will be. Your other option is to just wait until he goes back to Ireland. You can actually get a copy of the letter of readiness from the US embassy site. I can try to find the link for you if you want. I already printed it for Ray and he has it with him ready to send back. (We had heard that the some people got a packet 3 without the form in there so to be safe we printed one)

[rayandmel 39]

Unless something has changed, the US embassy site in Dublin said that the notice of readiness was not embassy specific. This is the one I found: http://photos.state....isa/ds_2001.pdf

The form is a DS2001

But if they send something different in Packet 3, obviously we will use that.

Edited July 21, 2012 by rayandmelissa

[IrishStar 0]

Unless something has changed, the US embassy site in Dublin said that the notice of readiness was not embassy specific. This is the one I found: http://photos.state....isa/ds_2001.pdf

The form is a DS2001

But if they send something different in Packet 3, obviously we will use that.

Thanks to everyone for their replies. We decided to book early Sept to early December. This way he can be there when packet 3 will most likely arrive. I will have to try to get a ticket for Christmas. This Visa process is gettin pricey.

[sabi 148]

Unless Vermont picks up, you will most probably get your NOA2 around December ( unless you will be one of te lucky ones who hear within a month or two, which happens on one off occasions)...

Packet 3 pretty much contains stuff you can download yourself from the embassy's website like DS 230 part I and a notice of readiness that ryanandmellissa gave you a link to you can send it back to the embassy as soon as you know the embassy got your petition from the NVC, and of course as long as you have your medical done ( or know the date he will have it on) plus all the documents required for the interview