Preparing documents for the interview

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

Thanks so much for your tips! Did you take the whole copy of the petition package with you? Do i need to bring it in with me also? ( old emails, starting from 2009, and some other supprting docs we had sent with our petition already).

Ok, thanks! Would it matter that it is not a see-through type ( it is red).

Yep, accordian folder, is the way to go! I forgot they called them that

No, mine were black. They will glance inside at security to see it is only papers. No problem. Mine were pretty hefty. I only needed about 1/100th of what I brought but I would not have laft anything behind

[memmy 3]

No. Everything has to go under a window slot.

The BEST way, and I did a bunch of these interviews by now...is to get an expandable folder with multiple pockets (I got 13 pocket folders at Staples) They are expandable and hold a ton of stuff. Label the pockets with what they contain and put everything in loose. When you enter you will go to a window and they will ask for documents. Open the folder (pouch, actually) and whip out what they need, hand it under the glass and be ready for the next thing. Binding it will just insure you have to UNbind it when you get there.

Label the folder "Visa Interview" and close it up when you are done and put it in the back of the closet. Then make one for the AOS interview, then one for the ROC interview, then one for the Citizenship interview. Put each away in the closet as you use them. When she gets her citizenship certificate, I kept only the official notifications (NOA's, you will have a BUNCH of them before this is over) and burned the rest. Big fire. Do it in a safe place.

Thanks a LOT for your response. Sounds very helpful!

[memmy 3]

YES, origianl of ALL docuemtns and a copy of all docuements. They will keep the copy and return the original. DO NOT leave without ALL your originals. You will keep the x-ray and the DS-3025 (vaccination form) The sealed envelope contains the results of the x-ray, that is all they need.

So, just to verify, i leave my X-ray and my vaccination form at home, and go to Kyiv with a sealed envelope that I was given after I passed my medical? Thanks! Do you advise me to take the copy of some documents included in the petition my fiance had submitted earlier?

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

remember take all the legal papers along with copies no thanks to my lawyer for not tell sveta this is why we was plaed in ap for not bring the legal birth record only copy if you wish i can give sveta's number if would make you feel little better to speak via voice with someone that has gone thru it

Ron, I can assure you that Sveta was NOT put in Ap because she did not bring her birth certificate. There is another reason or NO reason and they will never tell you what it was. Probably just a random AP. Forgetttin gto bring a document is not the "reason"

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

So, just to verify, i leave my X-ray and my vaccination form at home, and go to Kyiv with a sealed envelope that I was given after I passed my medical? Thanks! Do you advise me to take the copy of some documents included in the petition my fiance had submitted earlier?

I took ALL documents I submitted with the petition and a complete copy of the submission, plus all the evidence of realtionship I had collected. I needed alsmot none of it. The flipped through my affidavit, detached the supporting documents, gave them back and kept the I-134. They looked at four photos of us together. That's it, and NO questions at the interview. None. We walked to the window and they said "Your visa is approved, here is your origianl documents, welcome to the USA"

Your results may vary. Carry everything in. DO NOT leave the chest x-ray on the table in the hotel room! Take it in, they will probably not look at it, and take it back out. I also took everything to the AOS interview and sat there with it on my lap, then carried it home and put it back in the closet until the citizenship interview. I always took everything every time. You want me to tell you what to leave at home??????

You will KEEP the x-ray, they do not take it from you and they do not take the DS-3025. Keep that also. The chest x-ray is yours for fun and games or whatever you do, or give it to her doctor here who will want to charge you for a new one anyway...but it has little use after the medical exam is done. The DS 3025 is sent with the AOS papers and if it is complete that is all you need for the vaccine portion of the process. It also comes in handy to give a copy to her doctor here and for things such as schools. If she attends school here they always want vaccine records. It has been a useful document for us.

This business goes far beyond a visa, the visa is nothing, it is the beginning of the beginning. If this were a book, the visa is the table of contents. You need to be preparing for LIFE, a far more difficult endeavor than a visa.

Like the phrase "Kill them all and sort them out later"

Bring everything!

[memmy 3]

I took ALL documents I submitted with the petition and a complete copy of the submission, plus all the evidence of realtionship I had collected. I needed alsmot none of it. The flipped through my affidavit, detached the supporting documents, gave them back and kept the I-134. They looked at four photos of us together. That's it, and NO questions at the interview. None. We walked to the window and they said "Your visa is approved, here is your origianl documents, welcome to the USA"

Your results may vary. Carry everything in. DO NOT leave the chest x-ray on the table in the hotel room! Take it in, they will probably not look at it, and take it back out. I also took everything to the AOS interview and sat there with it on my lap, then carried it home and put it back in the closet until the citizenship interview. I always took everything every time. You want me to tell you what to leave at home??????

You will KEEP the x-ray, they do not take it from you and they do not take the DS-3025. Keep that also. The chest x-ray is yours for fun and games or whatever you do, or give it to her doctor here who will want to charge you for a new one anyway...but it has little use after the medical exam is done. The DS 3025 is sent with the AOS papers and if it is complete that is all you need for the vaccine portion of the process. It also comes in handy to give a copy to her doctor here and for things such as schools. If she attends school here they always want vaccine records. It has been a useful document for us.

This business goes far beyond a visa, the visa is nothing, it is the beginning of the beginning. If this were a book, the visa is the table of contents. You need to be preparing for LIFE, a far more difficult endeavor than a visa.

Like the phrase "Kill them all and sort them out later"

Bring everything!

Wow, sounds like your interview was really laid back. I wish mine will be the same way! I've had quite a few of them so far, but never ever a K-1:) I have one more question: Vaccinations are not a must for a K-1 visa applicant any more ( I mean to submit all of them in Ukraine). I had my vaccination history at my medical, plus some vaccinations I got in the US when I previously stayed there), but some of them are still missing out ( e.g. hepatitis and one more). Will I have to get them in the US? Or is it better to try to get them in Ukraine, while I am still here and have some time on my hands. I've checked with the local clinic, and they told me Hepatitis shot is not done in Ukraine About schools' vaccinations requirements, yep, I had to submit them when I was in the US for my studies. But it was done at the university med center. Where will I have to do it as a fiancee/spouse of an American? Thanks!

Edited December 4, 2012 by memmy

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

Wow, sounds like your interview was really laid back. I wish mine will be the same way! I've had quite a few of them so far, but never ever a K-1:) I have one more question: Vaccinations are not a must for a K-1 visa applicant any more ( I mean to submit all of them in Ukraine). I had my vaccination history at my medical, plus some vaccinations I got in the US when I previously stayed there), but some of them are still missing out ( e.g. hepatitis and one more). Will I have to get them in the US? Or is it better to try to get them in Ukraine, while I am still here and have some time on my hands. I've checked with the local clinic, and they told me Hepatitis shot is not done in Ukraine About schools' vaccinations requirements, yep, I had to submit them when I was in the US for my studies. But it was done at the university med center. Where will I have to do it as a fiancee/spouse of an American? Thanks!

Best to get ALL vaccines in Ukraine and bring the documents to the medical exam and ask for the Ds-3025. Then you are all set for the Adjustment when you arrive.

IF you choose to do it here, you can get the vaccines anywhere, family doctor, health department, whatever, BUT then you have to get a Civil Surgeon to sign off on the I-693 form and that can cost you hundreds of dollars. Civil surgeons are horrible parasites, worse than attorneys! Plus they can delay eveything weeks while you wait for an appointment, they often demand you pay for another full medical exam.

Avoid that by getting ALL your vaccines in Ukraine and getting the DS 3025 from the medical clinic

[memmy 3]

Best to get ALL vaccines in Ukraine and bring the documents to the medical exam and ask for the Ds-3025. Then you are all set for the Adjustment when you arrive.

IF you choose to do it here, you can get the vaccines anywhere, family doctor, health department, whatever, BUT then you have to get a Civil Surgeon to sign off on the I-693 form and that can cost you hundreds of dollars. Civil surgeons are horrible parasites, worse than attorneys! Plus they can delay eveything weeks while you wait for an appointment, they often demand you pay for another full medical exam.

Avoid that by getting ALL your vaccines in Ukraine and getting the DS 3025 from the medical clinic

Thanks so much for letting me know! I had NO idea about civil surgeons! Wil do my best to pass all vaccinations in Ukraine then. Will they accept my vaccination history from Ukraine ( if in English) and not from medical center in Kyiv?

Edited December 4, 2012 by memmy

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

Thanks so much for letting me know! I had NO idea about civil surgeons! Wil do my best to pass all vaccinations in Ukraine then. Will they accept my vaccination history from Ukraine ( if in English) and not from medical center in Kyiv?

You take your Ukrainian records with you to the medical exam and they translate and transcribe them onto the DS-3025 which is an English language document. You use a copy of that for the AOS after you are married. Keep copies of it for other needs in the USA, it will be your vaccination record here used by schools, doctors, etc.

[P A U L 14]

lol when i started, i thought all i had to do was fill out 2 sheets of paper and send it.

2 weeks later, i had a stack of papers about 2lbs.

[memmy 3]

I got my visa last week!