More questions. Need your insight.

[Jane8 4]

So, we were informed that our petition has been approved yesterday. We have an attorney so I guess we will have to wait to be told about the next steps.

By the way, we would never hire an attorney if I had found this site earlier, but... :/

I have questions which I don't know how easily can be answered but I would appreciate any insight you guys might have because everyone here is super helpful.

First question: I want to spend Christmas with my fiance. Mid December to early January, more or less.

I am also thinking that if everything goes well, I might already have the visa by the end of December and be able to move there.

BUT, for now, I only want to visit him in Christmas and then come back to my country, prepare the documents, have my interview, say goodbyes and move there for real a couple of months after that.

So the main questions is: Do I get an interview date AFTER I have gathered all the needed documents (that is to say, I call the embassy and inform them and ask for a date), OR they give me a certain date and by that time, I have to have everything prepared?

I am asking because I don't want to risk traveling to the US in Decemeber and have to worry about whether I'll be able to make it on time with documents and interview and because we need to book tickets sometime soon.

If this message sounded kinda mixed up, I apologize. I hope you get what I wanted to say/ask.

PS: I would ask the laywers but you know them, they were always like: '' You only have 40% chances of getting in the US'' and all that, which I deeply don't believe. I trust this site better.

Thank you!!

[Jane8 4]

For example: Can I have all the papers needed (birth certificate, police certificate etc)ready before I leave to visit, then travel to the US, come back , have my medical, get an interview date and be all set?

This way, I can ''prove'' at the Port of Entry that I am a legitimate traveler ( I'll have my NOA1 & 2 with me) and that I have a reason to come back to my country since I will have to have my medical and interview soon?

[Rezq n Sarah 0]

It is an exciting time that you are in indeed! I can remember last Christmas wanting to be with my Rezq so bad and being certain that our paperwork would be completed by then. But trying to guess when the government will get their stuff done is like trying to determine where the wind will blow next. Our NOA2 was approved in November but it wasn't until March before they scheduled Rezq's interview and April before he was coming my way. If you're coming for just a brief visit between now and then like you're thinking, then I can't see any reason why you couldn't come just like any other tourist. As for the interview date, THEY are the ones that will decide when that is and it is like pens and needles waiting for them after you've received your packet and send it back in plus they never do anything very quickly. Rezq got his package in December (a month after getting the NOA2) and returned it ASAP but they scheduled the interview clear out in March. Rezq kept in continual communication with the Embassy about the scheduling but it still took forever! My best advice for you is to use this time in between to get all your loose ends done so that once you get that interview, you can leave to be with your immediately following. That is what my Rezq did and we were so happy because the process is incredibly long even when you're at the end! Rezq got his Visa on the 9th of April and was here in the States perminantly on the 21st. The Adjustment of Status is another long wait (we're still waiting for his work authorization & green card) but when you're together, time doesn't drag on like it does when you're apart!

[C-ma'am 684]

First of all... Congrats on the NOA2, Jane. Your Timeline was pretty accurate, wasn't it?

What you intend to do, can be easily done. All you would have to do is make sure you keep good communication with the Embassy and let them know that you will not be presenting packet 3 until January; but you need to be prepared for it.

You said you have a lawyer. Your lawyer should know this and be the liaison with the Embassy. If for some reason, your lawyer won't do it, it's quite alright; but you will have to make sure you have a way to contact them Embassy and keeping them up to date with your actions.

EDIT: Or as the previous poster said, you can complete Packet 3 and make sure they schedule the interview far out. The other option I was giving you was based on how one girl from Argentina did it last year. She came to spend the Holidays with her fiance and presented Packet 3 when she came back to Argentina in January. She had her interview in February 2012 and was on her way soon after.

Edited October 4, 2012 by Celeste & C

[Jane8 4]

Thank you, Celeste! You brought me good luck when you asked me to fill in my timeline the other day.

And yes, it was incredibly accurate.

So... From what I read, Packet 3 contains the documents you need to fill and send back at the Embassy to let them know that you're ready to have the interview?

Am I right?

Is there a timeframe for this? I mean do they tell you: '' you need to return those papers back by that time''?

[C-ma'am 684]

Thank you, Celeste! You brought me good luck when you asked me to fill in my timeline the other day.

And yes, it was incredibly accurate.

So... From what I read, Packet 3 contains the documents you need to fill and send back at the Embassy to let them know that you're ready to have the interview?

Am I right?

Is there a timeframe for this? I mean do they tell you: '' you need to return those papers back by that time''?

Correct. Packet 3 contains a checklist of documents the Embassy expects to receive from you. There isn't a deadline written in stone but, as you can imagine, they will be expecting to receive it as soon as possible; so it's advisable that you have the courtesy to let them know that, for example:

a) You will be sending everything in...say January or b) You send it back right away and when they give you the date of the interview you ask them to re schedule for ...say February.

Remember to consult with your lawyer, though; because I don't know how they all do it or not, but he/she should be able to advise you on this and even be the one giving the Embassy the "heads up".

[Jane8 4]

Right. Thank you so much, you are extremely helpful.

The more I read about Packet 3, the more confused I get.

I just read that they give you instructions about how to do the medical exams, only after you submit the Packet 3.

Is that correct? Does that mean that you can't actually have your medical before they receive all the documents needed?

Ah.. I'm sorry for all my silly questions, but I'd rather ask here than ask the lawyers.

[C-ma'am 684]

Right. Thank you so much, you are extremely helpful.

The more I read about Packet 3, the more confused I get.

I just read that they give you instructions about how to do the medical exams, only after you submit the Packet 3.

Is that correct? Does that mean that you can't actually have your medical before they receive all the documents needed?

Ah.. I'm sorry for all my silly questions, but I'd rather ask here than ask the lawyers.

Your questions are ANYTHING BUT silly.

It's a lot of information and it's overwhelming!

Yes, Packet 3 contains instructions for the medical y possibly for other things, such as: photo requirements, how to obtain Police records and what they expect you to turn in. I said possibly because, while most Packet 3 should be similar or the same, each Embassy deals with things differently.

Having said this: I don't know what the rules in Greece are for the Medical Exam. In Argentina you CAN do that without a problem.

I always say the same thing: When in doubt., contact the Embassy.

You can do it now, possibly by writing an email to athensconsul@state.gov As a general tip: The Embassies reply to their emails faster when you have the NVC case number on the subject, and you won't be getting that for, at least, another week. You can email them now and use an eye catcher subject: K1/Medical to see if they would reply sooner.

[Jane8 4]

So much great information.

How soon will I be receiving Packet 3 after our approval?

Also, I just sent an email to the attorneys, asking what I've asked here already.

For the record, I am not waiting for a very ''positive'' answer from them. All the times I've asked if it would be ok to visit while having the K-1 pending, they would reply by giving us chances and percentages of letting me in. Meh...

[C-ma'am 684]

So much great information.

How soon will I be receiving Packet 3 after our approval?

Also, I just sent an email to the attorneys, asking what I've asked here already.

For the record, I am not waiting for a very ''positive'' answer from them. All the times I've asked if it would be ok to visit while having the K-1 pending, they would reply by giving us chances and percentages of letting me in. Meh...

Hehehe oh well. They give you that info because they need to "protect" their business. I'm sure there are people who would come back to them saying: YOU TOLD ME I COULD VISIT BLAH BLAH BLAH

I don't see other active members from Greece at this time, so we could compare their Timelines; but usually it takes between 1 to 2 months from NOA 2

Since you will be visiting while your K1 is being processed, you may want to read (if you haven't already) the sticky post http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/67796-yes-you-can-visit/ to be prepared.

[Jane8 4]

1 to 2 months to receive Packet 2? Didn't expect that!

I've read the sticky post many times and so far, almost everyone's experiences had been pleasant.

So, if we say that I do visit for Christmas, since it's highly unlikely that I'll have a job by then (Greece, you know?), I was thinking about volunteering at the research lab I was when I was in university. This way, I might have my ''boss'' write me a letter saying that I indeed volunteer there and that he is expecting me to be back let's say January 8th or something.

I know it's not a paying job, but wouldn't be at least nice to have a letter from him? Doesn't that show something?

I will be having evidence with me (NOA, my laywers card in case they wanna ask something, blah blah blah), but other than that I do not own/rent a house to show them enough ties.

But honestly now, I'be going there in Christmas which is a hiliday season and only be stayin for about 18 days. What can go so terribly wrong? :/

[C-ma'am 684]

1 to 2 months from today to receive packet 3... that's an estimated time it could be sooner, of course; but you'll have to keep in consideration that your file is probably on the way to the NVC to be processed, and then they will have to forward it to Greece, and the Embassy will have to process your file and let you know they have it with Packet 3. PLUS we have a holiday next week, so that 1 less day off October.... so, it's not really mathematical, it's a mere speculation.

We got NOA 2 on Jan 10th 2012 and the Embassy contacted me on February 15th with Packet 3 (Again, this was for Argentina and it may vary from one country to the other).

I think everything counts, so if you can get a letter or something that will show ties, get it. You will be coming for the Holidays and that's the purpose of your visit... show confidence and they may not even ask you anything else.

[Jane8 4]

Thanks again!

I mean, come on! I was there last December and stayed for two whole months, without having a job here, or anything else, and only a boyfriend there!

Yes, they gave me a hard time at POE, but I didn't lie and they let me in when back then I had much much fewer chances of being admitted.

So I think it's silly to have the laywers telling me now that my chances are only about 40%. Duh... what can you do...

Edited October 4, 2012 by Jane8

[kytwell 179]

Congrats on NOA 2! No experience with fiance visa or I'd be able to answer some Greek specific questions for you.

[Jane8 4]

Thanks, kytwell! I appreciate it, either way.