Help with embassy packets

[Pinball1921 4]

I'm still learning all about the embassy part, and I don't see any guides like there were for the first 2 parts of the immigration process. Here is the situation: My wife is seeking a Cr-1 Visa in Panama. The case has just been expedited to the embassy and we are being told we will be contacted by them soon. What is packet 3 and 4? What will be needed for those? I read somewhere that packet 4 is used only for K-1, is that true? She already has most if not all the documents needed for the interview. She has original birth certificates from both of us, original marriage certificate, original police certificate, a passport, 2 color photos, the I-864, and DS-230 (our case was expedited so I know she will have to take these to the interview), and photos of us together. The only thing I can think of that she needs to get are her medical/immunization records for the medical appointment and pay for the IV packet at the embassy since we didn't pay for it at the NVC. Is there anything else that she will need? What will she need to do when she gets the Packet 3? I was under the assumption that she would bring all of these forms and certificates to the embassy on the day of the interview, not be mailed in prior. Obviously, since we have been expedited, I'm trying to be as prepared as possible so that when she gets packet 3 in the mail she can send it back within a day. Thanks for any reply!

[NikLR 13,232]

You may have to send the embassy a package 3 which is when the K1 people normally send their photocopied documents. I'm not sure exactly how expedited cases work out in this kind of visa path. P4 is normally when you have an interview date (it's the interview letter.) You may have to play this by ear a little bit unless someone else has a better idea.

[Pinball1921 4]

Oh ok so photocopies get mailed with packet 3 and the originals are brought to the interview? I'm not a k-1 seeker though, I'm a cr-1 seeker. Will that make a difference?

[NikLR 13,232]

I"m honestly not sure. Like I said that's what happens with a K1 or K3 case. You may have to wait and see what happens for you. Hopefully someone who has also expedited to an embassy can help you out more than I can!

[Pinball1921 4]

Thanks. Yes I hope someone with that experience replies. God knows that the embassy doesn't help. I just wanted to know more about the process and I got the reply "we'll contact you". THANKS

[N & T 0]

I think we are in same situation.

My petitioner filed I-130 for IR-1 and its been over 3 weeks now. USCIS dosent any contact us since that day. So I email to them today and they said my petition I-130 was approved on June 28th. and they sent that approval to local embassy today. The local embassy will send me packet 3...
I asked what's in packet 3, but they just answered "Pck #3 is the information and forms Consular Section mail to you for your Immigrant Visa process."(I did copy and paste this sentence from email that I got from USCIS)

So I researched by myself and it maybe same as NOA2... Im not sure yet. I know many people talking about packet 3 for K1 or K3 but not CR-1/IR-1. But after I-130 approved for CR-1 or IR-1, people get NOA2.... So Im guessing packet 3 is same as NOA2.

I will contact local embassy about this when they get my approval I-130 petition, so we'll see.

Or I hope someone post right information about this soon!

Edited July 1, 2013 by N & T

[stevie b 141]

Oh ok so photocopies get mailed with packet 3 and the originals are brought to the interview? I'm not a k-1 seeker though, I'm a cr-1 seeker. Will that make a difference?

just wait for the packet .. most likely you will have to send originals with copies to the embassy. make an entire copy for yourself first.. all fees and acceptance will be done at the embassy

search the threads for dcf filings or filing from abroad .. you will find more specific answers to your questions like that based on other's experiences

[N & T 0]

I think we are in same situation.

My petitioner filed I-130 for IR-1 and its been over 3 weeks now. USCIS dosent any contact us since that day. So I email to them today and they said my petition I-130 was approved on June 28th. and they sent that approval to local embassy today. The local embassy will send me packet 3...

I asked what's in packet 3, but they just answered "Pck #3 is the information and forms Consular Section mail to you for your Immigrant Visa process."(I did copy and paste this sentence from email that I got from USCIS)

So I researched by myself and it maybe same as NOA2... Im not sure yet. I know many people talking about packet 3 for K1 or K3 but not CR-1/IR-1. But after I-130 approved for CR-1 or IR-1, people get NOA2.... So Im guessing packet 3 is same as NOA2.

I will contact local embassy about this when they get my approval I-130 petition, so we'll see.

Or I hope someone post right information about this soon!

Im sorry I was little wrong about what I posted.

The Packet 3 send from embassy, NOA2 send from USCIS... So not completely same one.

[Lovemad 7]

I'm still learning all about the embassy part, and I don't see any guides like there were for the first 2 parts of the immigration process. Here is the situation: My wife is seeking a Cr-1 Visa in Panama. The case has just been expedited to the embassy and we are being told we will be contacted by them soon. What is packet 3 and 4? What will be needed for those? I read somewhere that packet 4 is used only for K-1, is that true? She already has most if not all the documents needed for the interview. She has original birth certificates from both of us, original marriage certificate, original police certificate, a passport, 2 color photos, the I-864, and DS-230 (our case was expedited so I know she will have to take these to the interview), and photos of us together. The only thing I can think of that she needs to get are her medical/immunization records for the medical appointment and pay for the IV packet at the embassy since we didn't pay for it at the NVC. Is there anything else that she will need? What will she need to do when she gets the Packet 3? I was under the assumption that she would bring all of these forms and certificates to the embassy on the day of the interview, not be mailed in prior. Obviously, since we have been expedited, I'm trying to be as prepared as possible so that when she gets packet 3 in the mail she can send it back within a day. Thanks for any reply!

Hi Pinball1921,

Here is the list of documents which I took to my visa interview in London. I appreciate that I cannot advise you about country specific info but hopefully this list will give you some food for thought.

My documents:

1) My interview letter

2) My passport

3) 3 recent U.S sized passport photos (I got mine from Timpsons, and would recommend them to other UK based VJers as their service is quick and reasonably priced)

4) Printed copies of receipts for AOS and IV bills paid to the NVC

5) Photocopy of my birth certificate (original submitted to NVC)

6) Photocopy of my marriage certificate (original submitted to NVC)

7) Photocopy of my Police Certificate (original submitted to NVC)

8) Copies of my DS-230 parts I and II (submitted to NVC with Pt I signed and Pt II left unsigned)

9) Copies of the I-864 from my husband and my joint sponsor

10) Copy of my husband's 2012 W-2

11) Two most recent statements from our U.S joint account

12) Recent statements from my husband's personal account and for his stocks and shares

13) Recent statements from my UK savings accounts and stocks and shares

14) Receipt of payment from my medical and updated vaccine record provided by Knightsbridge Doctors (this is the set of doctors who conduct medicals in the UK) at my medical

15) The Stubs of my boarding passes for my visits to see my husband in the U.S. (we sent photocopies with our I-130)

16) Copies of the pages in my husband's passport with stamps to show he visited me in the UK

17) Some recent pictures of the most recent time my husband and I saw each other, which were not submitted with our I-130

18) A selection of greeting cards which my husband and I had sent to each other, and also some cards which my in-laws sent to me

19) The checklists for our RFE and with my interview letter

We sent photocopies of each document along with the originals to the NVC, but I made sure I took another set of photocopies to London as there is now, I believe, a $1.00 charge to photocopy any documents if required at the London U.S. embassy. I was not asked about most of these documents, but I felt better knowing that I had them to hand, if requested.

I believe Packet 4 is your interview letter, and I am not sure what is meant by packet 3. But I presume it's for the requested documents, which I sent to the NVC, and which your spouse will bring to her interview. I am not sure about the policy of the U.S. embassy in Panama City but I would make sure your spouse takes photocopies of all documents along with the originals, to avoid any possible charges for photocopying.

Good luck!