DCF in Frankfurt (2013)

[MissKate 0]

Thanks MissKate for your reply. Yes, I read this with the 6 months in the letter. I was thinking I would prefer to have the interview the latest in March just to have it over with. Is it possible to put a proposed travel date of April/May 2014 and then travel in July or August? After all, plans can change. So in other words, we would still enter the U.S. within 6 months, but have the interview done already a little earlier.

Oh, I guess you can write April/May then.

It is important to schedule the medical exam right.

For example, in Frankfurt it takes them about 3 day to send the results to the Consulate,

in Munich it is about 10-14 days or so and usually you get appointment not right away but in a week.

Another thing is that the Consulate is supposed get your medical first and only then schedule your appointment,

but maybe you could ask at the Consulate directly.

[maeve808 5]

That's good to know regarding the medical. We live closer to Munich, but if it takes that long there we might to go Frankfurt. So after we send in the next batch of documents, will we then receive a letter from the Consulate to go ahead and do the medical? Will they also let us know the date for the interview in this letter? I'm just curious what information the next letter from them will contain.

[Lenchick 133]

Yesterday I received the letter with my approved I-130 petition (approval date was January 27). I was quite surprised it went so fast. In the letter it says we now have to follow steps 3-7. We don't have an exact travel date yet (we were thinking August 2014). Does anyone know if we have to fill in an exact date where it says "proposed travel date"? Or can we say something like "to be determined"?

Also, after we send in this next package, will we then hear back from them regarding when to do the medical?

Congratulations that it went so fast!!! We are still waiting.

[maeve808 5]

Congratulations that it went so fast!!! We are still waiting.

Thanks Hopefully you'll also receive positive news very soon!

[Mark88 183]

That's good to know regarding the medical. We live closer to Munich, but if it takes that long there we might to go Frankfurt. So after we send in the next batch of documents, will we then receive a letter from the Consulate to go ahead and do the medical? Will they also let us know the date for the interview in this letter? I'm just curious what information the next letter from them will contain.

You usually get an appointment in Munich pretty fast. Frankfurt has the only advantage, that they accept walkins on the same day you have your interview in Frankfurt and forward the exam latest the next business day. If your not in a rush, I would go to Munich again.

[MissKate 0]

That's good to know regarding the medical. We live closer to Munich, but if it takes that long there we might to go Frankfurt. So after we send in the next batch of documents, will we then receive a letter from the Consulate to go ahead and do the medical? Will they also let us know the date for the interview in this letter? I'm just curious what information the next letter from them will contain.

I have just got the letter with interview date 12 February today(the one after I sent the package 3)

it says: " if you have not scheduled my medical exam yet, please do it NOW. The medical examination must be completed prior to the interview by one of the panel physicians."

That's good to know regarding the medical. We live closer to Munich, but if it takes that long there we might to go Frankfurt. So after we send in the next batch of documents, will we then receive a letter from the Consulate to go ahead and do the medical? Will they also let us know the date for the interview in this letter? I'm just curious what information the next letter from them will contain.

I have just got the letter with interview date 12 February today(the one after I sent the package 3)

it says: " if you have not scheduled my medical exam yet, please do it NOW. The medical examination must be completed prior to the interview by one of the panel physicians."

[Lenchick 133]

Thanks Hopefully you'll also receive positive news very soon!

My petition was approved, I wrote to the second office yesterday where all approved petitions get transferred and they answered me with this today. whoohooo!!!

Dear Ms xxxxxxxx,

We received only your petition the 24 Jan 2014. Please be so kind and contact the USCIS office in Frankfurt USCIS.Frankfurt@DHS.GOV asking about the petition for your children.

Thank you very much

[maeve808 5]

I have just got the letter with interview date 12 February today(the one after I sent the package 3)

it says: " if you have not scheduled my medical exam yet, please do it NOW. The medical examination must be completed prior to the interview by one of the panel physicians."

I have just got the letter with interview date 12 February today(the one after I sent the package 3)

it says: " if you have not scheduled my medical exam yet, please do it NOW. The medical examination must be completed prior to the interview by one of the panel physicians."

Thanks for this info! That's good to know.

My petition was approved, I wrote to the second office yesterday where all approved petitions get transferred and they answered me with this today. whoohooo!!!

Dear Ms xxxxxxxx,

We received only your petition the 24 Jan 2014. Please be so kind and contact the USCIS office in Frankfurt USCIS.Frankfurt@DHS.GOV asking about the petition for your children.

Thank you very much

That's great news I'm happy for you.

[Lenchick 133]

Thank you!!

[Lenchick 133]

That is very funny!!! My husband has just received I-171 (Notice of Approval). It says my petition was approved on Jan 15. When I contacted the immigration office where all approved petitions get transferred, they answered me my petition was approved on Jan 24. No news on my kids' petitions so far.

[rocketman 6]

I was just wondering,

do they look at the evidence of the relationship which people bring with them, like photos, CDs etc.

and give it back at the end of the interview or they keep it?

I had plans on providing a couple of original documents from my previous stays in America,

and just to show them to the Consular and take them back home.

I had front loaded my i-130 with about 3 wedding pictures, and 3 pictures of subsequent trips. I had also included other evidences such as gifts, car insurance etc. For the interview, I took more photos and a wedding CD. However, I believe due to our circumstance (3.5 years since married) and both of same ethnicity and family and education background (both of us are from Asia, my wife just happens to be in Germany for studies), no extra evidences were asked. Only 3 to 4 questions were asked. How we met, when married ( I threw in the bone that it was an arranged marriage) and what I did for a living. But having a CD evidence of wedding ceremony was required in many consulates in previous years when there was no NVC stage and we brought the evidences at the day of interview and not before it.

[MissKate 0]

I had front loaded my i-130 with about 3 wedding pictures, and 3 pictures of subsequent trips. I had also included other evidences such as gifts, car insurance etc. For the interview, I took more photos and a wedding CD. However, I believe due to our circumstance (3.5 years since married) and both of same ethnicity and family and education background (both of us are from Asia, my wife just happens to be in Germany for studies), no extra evidences were asked. Only 3 to 4 questions were asked. How we met, when married ( I threw in the bone that it was an arranged marriage) and what I did for a living. But having a CD evidence of wedding ceremony was required in many consulates in previous years when there was no NVC stage and we brought the evidences at the day of interview and not before it.

Thanks for the reply!

I have never thought about the wedding video.

Do you think it makes a difference if I bring the video on a flesh card, not on CD?

I mean they will still let me inside?

[rocketman 6]

Thanks for the reply!

I have never thought about the wedding video.

Do you think it makes a difference if I bring the video on a flesh card, not on CD?

I mean they will still let me inside?

no flash drives. It is considered electronic device. To be honest, I am not sure, if there is any restriction in bringing DVD, but in my case we had the Xray cd and wedding cd. They didnt ask or check.

[Lenchick 133]

I had front loaded my i-130 with about 3 wedding pictures, and 3 pictures of subsequent trips. I had also included other evidences such as gifts, car insurance etc. For the interview, I took more photos and a wedding CD. However, I believe due to our circumstance (3.5 years since married) and both of same ethnicity and family and education background (both of us are from Asia, my wife just happens to be in Germany for studies), no extra evidences were asked. Only 3 to 4 questions were asked. How we met, when married ( I threw in the bone that it was an arranged marriage) and what I did for a living. But having a CD evidence of wedding ceremony was required in many consulates in previous years when there was no NVC stage and we brought the evidences at the day of interview and not before it.

What do you mean by saying arranged marriage? I think you are probably confusing and your marriage was not arranged. I guess you meant to say that the wedding ceremony was arranged because according to the USCIS definition of arranged marriage it means that it is a type of marital union where the bride and groom are selected by a third party rather than by each other.

[schinx87 1]

Hi everyone!

New to the forum, but have enjoyed (and learned a lot from) everyone's posts! I'm a USC living in Germany with permanent residency here and my husband (of 5 years) is a German citizen. We've decided to start the process of filing the spouse visa

I'm in the process of gathering all documentation to file the I-130 form -- and I had some specific questions that I hope maybe some other filers in Frankfurt may have some answers to

My only question regarding the form is regarding the proof of bona fide Marriage, in addition to submitting our marriage certificate (we have an international copy of this in English):

1) Frankfurt's own instruction sheet on filing this form makes this step sound "optional" (though I assume it's more the case that it's highly recommended!) It says:

If filing on behalf of a spouse, you may also wish to submit additional evidence related to the

bona fides of the marriage...

http://photos.state.gov/libraries/frankfurt/9318/consular_pdf/I130%20Instructions%20and%20Checklist.pdf

Advice?

2) I have plenty of proof (in terms of joint bank account, our names are on multiple rent contracts together, we've always filed our taxes together etc.) -- but these docs are all in German. It clearly states that we need a translation in the instructions -- even though later on throughout the process the Frankfurt consulate indicates copies in German or English are accepted. -- I assume I'll need to get translations done, though, right?

3) What wasn't indicated by the translations was whether or not they need to be done by a certified translator/need to be notarized. It clearly states on the instructions:

Any document presented to USCIS that is not in English MUST have a COMPLETE translation into the

English language. The person that completes the translation must list his/her name and indicate he/she is fluent

in both the English and foreign language and that the translation is complete and accurate.

This could be theoretically anyone, (I am fluent in German myself--though I assume the petitioner is not allowed to translate their own docs) as long as they indicate this on the translation, correct? If any person fluent in German can do this, that would be awesome!-- those documents listed above are lengthy and would be expensive to translate!

I would appreciate any advice or experiences you had in this matter !

Thank you,

Schinx