Juarez Consulate

[jmmr 0]

I am so sorry brian *supportive hug* I hope things will get better from here on out. On your timeline it says "denial." Were you guys denied or just RFE'ed? Keep faithful ok. Don't lose that hope. We're here for you!

I called CDJ today and talked to a very nice man. He told me that they had our case, and that they've had it for less than a week. SOOOOOOO The guy was trying to avoid telling me how long it would take for us to get a Packet 3. He was very hesitant. I'm guessing because it varies so much on a case by case basis. Well, after asking 4 different ways, he finally said it could take 2-3 months The poor guy felt bad, I'm sure, because he didn't want to tell me an answer that he wasn't certain on. Anywho... so I'm not going to beleive that because I know it was a ball park answer. He also told me that the applicant (jorge/beneficiary) is the one who actually receives the packet, not me. OK *sigh* Well, what do you guys think? I confirmed that Jorge will not need an interview appointment, and that he needs to go to the medical at least 1-2 days prior to the interview, which I already knew of. I also asked him if I could use the applications for the fiance packet on the website, he said that would be fine, but that he wouldn't recommend me fill them out until we receive the packet because each consulate may have different information from us. Well... Just wanted to share my story.

[nm123 0]

I am so sorry brian *supportive hug* I hope things will get better from here on out. On your timeline it says "denial." Were you guys denied or just RFE'ed? Keep faithful ok. Don't lose that hope. We're here for you!

I called CDJ today and talked to a very nice man. He told me that they had our case, and that they've had it for less than a week. SOOOOOOO The guy was trying to avoid telling me how long it would take for us to get a Packet 3. He was very hesitant. I'm guessing because it varies so much on a case by case basis. Well, after asking 4 different ways, he finally said it could take 2-3 months The poor guy felt bad, I'm sure, because he didn't want to tell me an answer that he wasn't certain on. Anywho... so I'm not going to beleive that because I know it was a ball park answer. He also told me that the applicant (jorge/beneficiary) is the one who actually receives the packet, not me. OK *sigh* Well, what do you guys think? I confirmed that Jorge will not need an interview appointment, and that he needs to go to the medical at least 1-2 days prior to the interview, which I already knew of. I also asked him if I could use the applications for the fiance packet on the website, he said that would be fine, but that he wouldn't recommend me fill them out until we receive the packet because each consulate may have different information from us. Well... Just wanted to share my story.

Brian - even though it's the delay is a hassle, I hope it gets resolved quickly! You and your fiancee will be together soon.

JMMR - I wouldn't really believe much that they say at the consulate. They have a bad record of telling misleading or inaccurate information, even though they work there... it's crazy. On average, the Fiance Petition gets sent 4-6 wks from the time CDJ received it, and it gets sent to both the beneficiary & applicant, even though it's usually just the applicant who receives it in the USA since the MX mail system is bad. When you get the forms, fill them out the DS forms online because one of them (I think the DS157?) creates a barcode. And the consulate won't accept it WITHOUT the barcode, but at the same time doesn't give anyone a heads up that the form has to be filled out online, so some people have arrived with a handwritten form and were told to return another time. If you call them again, you'll probably get a different answer... again and again and again, which sucks because we just have good intentions and want to know what's going on.

[brian87 0]

On your timeline it says "denial." Were you guys denied or just RFE'ed? Keep faithful ok.

No, I actually received two envelopes on the same day. The first stated that my approval had been revoked and changed to a denial. The second envelope asked me to answer that stupid yes/no question and send it back and they would reconsider the denial and make a final decision.

I guess because I had an earlier approval the procedure was a tad different than if I had never had a decision.

It will all work out. Just irritated that I messsed it up, and that my petition is delayed longer than if I had received a RFE first.

Brian

[brian87 0]

Brian - even though it's the delay is a hassle, I hope it gets resolved quickly! You and your fiancee will be together soon.

My file has been touched three times since June 29th, even on Aug. 3rd which was a Sunday.

What stinks is that my NOA2 was just a week behind yours, and my file should be sitting in a box next yours at Juarez. Now, I just hope to have the denial overturned by the end of August.

Thanks for the kind words from everyone.

Brian

[nm123 0]

Brian - even though it's the delay is a hassle, I hope it gets resolved quickly! You and your fiancee will be together soon.

My file has been touched three times since June 29th, even on Aug. 3rd which was a Sunday.

What stinks is that my NOA2 was just a week behind yours, and my file should be sitting in a box next yours at Juarez. Now, I just hope to have the denial overturned by the end of August.

Thanks for the kind words from everyone.

Brian

It's good to know they're working on it! Hopefully in the next couple of days, you'll receive the approval on the RFE! And they usually get resolved pretty fast, so hopefully it'll be coming soon.

[nm123 0]

I just received the Fiance Packet! It's funny because it looks exactly like a Xeroxed copy of all the things on the CDJ website, plus the cover sheet with the open appointment info.

[jmmr 0]

YES!! COngrats on receiving your packet!!! YOU ARE SO CLOSE!!

[jmmr 0]

Hello-I sent jorge a very nice color copy of my Birth Certificate and a blown up color copy of my pass port with the stamp of when I went to MX to visit him. Do you guys think that will be sufficient enough for him to take to the interview? (along with all the other forms). I ask this because I will most likely not be attending the interview with him, and I do not want to send him the originals because I am afraid it will get stolen or lost. Will this risk our chances? Please give me a straight forward answer

Also... how much money should he take with him for the medical and the interview? I'm also confused about something I have read before about paying for the visa in advance? Can someone explain that to me? I don't understand it

Thanks you guys

[nm123 0]

Hello-I sent jorge a very nice color copy of my Birth Certificate and a blown up color copy of my pass port with the stamp of when I went to MX to visit him. Do you guys think that will be sufficient enough for him to take to the interview? (along with all the other forms). I ask this because I will most likely not be attending the interview with him, and I do not want to send him the originals because I am afraid it will get stolen or lost. Will this risk our chances? Please give me a straight forward answer

Also... how much money should he take with him for the medical and the interview? I'm also confused about something I have read before about paying for the visa in advance? Can someone explain that to me? I don't understand it

Thanks you guys

Hi jmmr! Is the birth certificate that you're sending to him a certified copy or one that is a colored Xeroxed copy? It should be certified with the seal (if you don't want to give him the original, you can get a copy at http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/howto/w2w/w2welcom.htm and select your state, and it'll tell you how to get it). I believe what you did with the passport is fine.

As for the costs, first your fiance will go to the medical and pay $148.50 USD (the Medical Instructions Form from the CDJ site says $135, plus tax), plus any vaccines he decides to get (none are necessary because the K1 is a non-immigrant visa and he'll get his vaccines in the US when he does adjustment of status). When he's done with the medical, he can go to Banamex and pay $131, and keep the receipt to show at the visa interview.

[jmmr 0]

hello again! Ok about the birth certificate~~~~ My supervisor is a notary, can she notarize a GOOD QUALITY copy of my birth certificate, and is that considered a certified copy? Will that be just as good? Also, along with the I 184 affidavit of support, should I include a notarized letter from my supervisor stating that I make over poverty level?

OOH ANother thing!! I am so excited because I may have found an apartment and MAY move sept 1. IF the landlord is willing to wait til then. I hope so! They have a pool and gymnasium and it is very private and beautiful. It's running at 750 but I think we'll be ok with that amount. I'm excited!!!!!

[Marty80 0]

While not completely specific to Juarez, some people may find it helpful to read this or comment on this topic I posted HERE.

[nm123 0]

jmmr - No, you would need a certified copy of your certificate, not a notarized copy. Please refer back to that link for your state's vital records office, and it'll probably cost under $20. And the apartment sounds great!

Marty - I'm only somewhat familiar with the waiver process, but I think you should start visiting immigrate2us.net regularly and post some questions there about your situation to see what they recommend. There is a member named Laura Fern (she's one of the moderators of the site and is going to start law school in the fall), and also an immigration lawyer named Laurel Scott. I answered one of your lasts posts about the weekly chat they have there.

[jmmr 0]

Ok. Thanks! But I am still confoozled. What I have in my hands is my real birth certificate. I was born in Puerto Rico so I don't want to ask for a certified copy from Puerto Rico so it can cause weeks for me to receive it. Can I take my real birth certificate to the court house in my home town and they can provide me with a certified copy? I'm not really understanding the difference between certified and notarized Maybe that's why I am so confused.

[Marty80 0]

Thanks again for taking the time to respond. A number of other people also suggested immigrate2us.com. I'll check it out soon, and report back my findings. Have a nice week.

Regards,

Marty

jmmr - No, you would need a certified copy of your certificate, not a notarized copy. Please refer back to that link for your state's vital records office, and it'll probably cost under $20. And the apartment sounds great!

Marty - I'm only somewhat familiar with the waiver process, but I think you should start visiting immigrate2us.net regularly and post some questions there about your situation to see what they recommend. There is a member named Laura Fern (she's one of the moderators of the site and is going to start law school in the fall), and also an immigration lawyer named Laurel Scott. I answered one of your lasts posts about the weekly chat they have there.

[웃 910]

Ok. Thanks! But I am still confoozled. I'm not really understanding the difference between certified and notarized Maybe that's why I am so confused.

When we are speaking about the certified birth certificate, we are simply talking about the original, not a copy.

The original copy will have a raised seal on the actual birth certificate, probably on the lower right hand corner. It should be about the size of a half-dollar coin and if you rub your finger across it, you will know if it is the original or a photo copy.

You will only need to notarize the affidavit of support papers. When you go to your local bank or the UPS Store or wherever you go to have the affidavit notarized, they will put a similar raised seal on the affidavit. But you do not need to get the birth certificate notarized because Juarez will want the original birth certificate, i.e. the one with the raised seal on it.

Edited August 11, 2008 by thegreatgate