NOA2 Approval! Now what on earth do I do?

[Goldfinger 4]

The I129f my U.S. girlfriend sent in was just approved today! For anybody wondering, we are with the California Service Center, and we filed at the end of March. March 28 I believe is our NOA1. But I have a few, by which I mean a boatload of questions.

#1 - How long between now and my interview? I'm from Canada and she's from the states (Duh.) We just got approved today, and right now I'm actually with her in her hometown lol.

#2 - What on earth should I do? Is there any documents I should grab while I'm here? Where do I go now? what do we do? lol. I'm kind of at a loss for what I should slap together, what she should get together, and everything like that.

Thanks in advance! I'm excited but also crapping a brick O_O

[TBoneTX 45,283]

*** Thread moved from K-1 Process forum to the Case Progress subforum. ***

(Organizer hat off)

Congratulations! The Guides and the Timelines (atop any VJ page) and the Canada regional forum have been available to you all this time. It's a great trove of information. See what you can find, and if you have questions afterwards, ask!

[ricnally 258]

The I129f my U.S. girlfriend sent in was just approved today! For anybody wondering, we are with the California Service Center, and we filed at the end of March. March 28 I believe is our NOA1. But I have a few, by which I mean a boatload of questions.

#1 - How long between now and my interview? I'm from Canada and she's from the states (Duh.) We just got approved today, and right now I'm actually with her in her hometown lol.

#2 - What on earth should I do? Is there any documents I should grab while I'm here? Where do I go now? what do we do? lol. I'm kind of at a loss for what I should slap together, what she should get together, and everything like that.

Thanks in advance! I'm excited but also crapping a brick O_O

Which consulate are you going through?

[Goldfinger 4]

Which consulate are you going through?

I'm going through Vancouver.

[ricnally 258]

I'm going through Vancouver.

OK, I did too, and I was in the same situation you're in now, so let me share a couple things with you. I was visiting my fiance in the states when I got the NOA2. I kind of thought that might happen, so I had everything in order--and with me--for the next steps. I planned to just hang out there til 2 or 3 weeks before the interview when I'd return to BC to get everything finalized for the move. The thing is, the consulate in Vancouver is really on top of things! If you take a look at my timeline, you'll see suddenly everything happened at once. When it came time to schedule the interview, (a Thursday) they actually had interview times available on the following Monday! I was still in LA, so there was no way I could make it, and get the medical done beforehand. I ended up scheduling it for a week later. So I left LA on the first Tuesday, had my medical on Thursday, interview the next Tuesday, visa in hand on Friday morning and, on the plane back to LA on Friday afternoon. It was all ridiculously rushed, and nerve-wracking, so just keep that in mind re: Vancouver. (I think they often wait several weeks for an interview time in Montreal).

Also, if you haven't got your police cert yet, get it from the Commissionaires--they are the fastest. (and you'll also need one from any other country you've lived in more than 6 months--hope you've got those already, if you need them, cuz they can take a loooooong time).

[Goldfinger 4]

OK, I did too, and I was in the same situation you're in now, so let me share a couple things with you. I was visiting my fiance in the states when I got the NOA2. I kind of thought that might happen, so I had everything in order--and with me--for the next steps. I planned to just hang out there til 2 or 3 weeks before the interview when I'd return to BC to get everything finalized for the move. The thing is, the consulate in Vancouver is really on top of things! If you take a look at my timeline, you'll see suddenly everything happened at once. When it came time to schedule the interview, (a Thursday) they actually had interview times available on the following Monday! I was still in LA, so there was no way I could make it, and get the medical done beforehand. I ended up scheduling it for a week later. So I left LA on the first Tuesday, had my medical on Thursday, interview the next Tuesday, visa in hand on Friday morning and, on the plane back to LA on Friday afternoon. It was all ridiculously rushed, and nerve-wracking, so just keep that in mind re: Vancouver. (I think they often wait several weeks for an interview time in Montreal).

Also, if you haven't got your police cert yet, get it from the Commissionaires--they are the fastest. (and you'll also need one from any other country you've lived in more than 6 months--hope you've got those already, if you need them, cuz they can take a loooooong time).

Holy cow! I honestly thought the process would take a lot longer than that. From getting the NOA2 to your visa it was like, the span of a month!

A few more questions here: While I'm here, should I get my Affadavits of support together and a bunch of other evidence? I guess we can get notarized letters from her friends and family purporting the validity of our relationship. In fact, seeing as you have done this, what should I get together while I'm here?

She's been with me for a long while in my home country, so she's without a job right now, so her mother is going to co-sponsor. She wants to get a job / is looking right now (with even more hurry considering our approval) so I'm hoping that works out but I'm worried. How receptive is the vancouver consulate to mother co-sponsors? Also, I have more than a sizeable sum of money saved up. Will that contribute or does that matter at all?

Finally, is there anything else you can think of, and can I PM you if I think of anything? Sorry to come off as super-needy, but it's nerve-wracking and really nice to have someone with such first-hand experience offering me some guidance.

[ricnally 258]

Yes, get the affi of support stuff. If she needs tax return transcripts, you can order them from IRS website and you get them in a week or so. You only need evidence that you've seen each other in person within the last two years, at this point. So whatever you need to prove that....Passport stamps are best...but...You don't need to notarize letters from friends.

I don\t know anything about co-sponsors but, i do know, at this point, YOUR financial contribution is not counted. Read the guides here, and the info for Vancouver consulate available in the Canada portal.