French/American Couples - Part III - 2014

[mattelo 45]

Quentin955, can I ask you where you got that information about the laboratory BIOPARISOUEST? 'Cause there's no date indicated for the moving except for "at the end of September" and my interview is on September 28th!

And about the gonorrhea test, apparently it's not before October 1st (that's what written on Dr Jolly's website about it).

[quentin955 4]

I got everything in an email they sent me.

I guess if you didn't get it, it's because your appointment is before October or before the laboratory moves.

But yes, more details, or at least an exact date would be good!

[Sonia&Anthony 2]

First of all, congrats Angie!

And thank you for the feedback. That's really nice, and it will be useful!

I got the interview at the embassy on October 12th, 10:30. The only day I could get a medical appointment in the afternoon is... October 11th. At 2:30. so yes, the shot against the flu has to be done!

I went to a pharmacy, they didn't have the vaccine for the flu yet. Thankfully another one had it. I know it's not required but I got one for both hepatitis A and B. I read that some people got asked to do it once in the US, for the AOS... So, the more the better! lol

I also got my wisdom teeth removed yesterday. I had to, and it's cheaper than the US. I feel like everything is going really fast right now! It's a little bit stressful, but it will be okay!

By the way, there is a BIG UPDATE concerning the medical appointment. Here is the email I got:

Voilà! As if it wasn't stressful (and expensive) enough! lol

I'm just a little bit worried, they talk about the results at 3:00... My interview is at 2:30.

If I have some free time I'll go get the tests done another day. If not, I'll contact them and ask!

OMG!!! I can't believe they just added another test thank you for warning us!!

Do you live in or around Paris? Cause if you do, you can totally take the tests beforehand...I did mine a week or so before the medical ^^

That's a LOT of shots/surgery in just a few days, rest well this weekend!!

Quentin955, can I ask you where you got that information about the laboratory BIOPARISOUEST? 'Cause there's no date indicated for the moving except for "at the end of September" and my interview is on September 28th!

And about the gonorrhea test, apparently it's not before October 1st (that's what written on Dr Jolly's website about it).

I got everything in an email they sent me.

I guess if you didn't get it, it's because your appointment is before October or before the laboratory moves.

But yes, more details, or at least an exact date would be good!

I actually talked about that in the review I wrote for that lab ^^ They will be at their new address starting October 3rd. It's written on their door so that's the first thing I noticed when I went there

Also, just to add to angie's review about the medical, I had a very similar experience aside from 2 things :

1- she seemed kind of annoyed/disappointed that I didn't have an "official paper" with the NVC case number on it. By that, I think she meant the NVC letter. So if you can bring a copy of that to the medical, it's probably better just in case...if your USC never received it then you can simply say "I never had one" lol

2- this was very specific to me I guess but if you guys have asthma (I only have a really mild form and never had any attacks), please reassure her that you do carry an inhaler with you at all times; she talked to me about how that was the 1st easily curable cause of death in the world for like 5 minutes haha

And that's about it

[Sonia&Anthony 2]

Sooo I was feeling motivated and since my interview is on Wednesday, I thought I would post a list of everything that I’m taking to the embassy in my “K1 folder” to help you with what you will need to and can bring as well!
Some things are mandatory or better to bring of course; but a LOT of elements on my list are OPTIONAL; I just really like to be prepared and would rather bring way too much than not enough, just in case.
Also, some things are specific to us but I’ll mention when it is J

Please please please, let me know if you have any comments/questions/recommendations and/or if I’ve forgotten something haha

Here it is:

MANDATORY DOCUMENTS:

• Your passport
• DS-160 confirmation (with barcode)
• Proof of payment for the visa fees and confirmation of embassy appointment with your mailing address on it (that’s all the same document)
• Your police certificate (less than 3 months old)
• Your birth certificate (less than 3 months old)
• New letter of intent to marry (from your USC – less than 4 months old)
• Sealed medical envelope

NOT MENTIONNED AS MANDATORY BUT VERY IMPORTANT TO BRING:

• Affidavit of Support (form I-134) better with supporting evidence (latest tax return docs: forms 1040, 1099, W2; last 3 payslips, stock statement if relevant…)
• NOA 2
• USC’s birth certificate
• NVC letter with case number on it (if you’ve received it)

Aside from the supporting documents for the Affidavit of Support, I am bringing the originals of those documents. Once again, to be on the safe side, but only the I-134 should be an original here.

OTHER ORIGINAL DOCUMENTS THAT ARE NOT MANDATORY:

• NOA 1
• JAPD certificate + “attestation premiers secours”
• DS-2019 for J1 visa (that I had in 2014 – specific to us – but if you’ve ever had a US visa, that’s where you will want to put all the important documents from it!)
• US Social Security card + letter (specific to our case)
• US Driver’s Licence (specific to our case)
• Your letter of intent
• DS-3025 – vaccination record (that’s actually a copy, the original is in the sealed envelope, and will be given to you by the doctor at the medical. VERY important for the AOS so make sure to ask the doctor if they don’t automatically give a copy to you!)

PROOF OF RELATIONSHIP (WHAT WAS SENT WITH THE PETITION):

• Passport stamps from visiting each other
• Boarding passes
• Hotel reservation proofs
• Bus tickets
• FaceTime or Skype logs
• iMessages or WhatsApp text examples
• Emails
• Facebook conversations
• Engagement ring receipt
• Affidavit of personal knowledge of the engaged couple (Anthony’s mom wrote one – really, really not mandatory but we wanted to put a lot in our original file)
• Photos from the beginning of our relationship until our engagement (including pictures of that day as well)

PROOF OF RELATIONSHIP SINCE ENGAGEMENT (that the embassy DOESN’T have):

• Birthday eCards
• Emails about wedding plans
• Bill for the wedding dress
• Wedding dress sketch
• More boarding passes
• More hotel reservation proofs
• AirBnB confirmations
• More photos (I only added 3 at this point, not THAT much has happened since the engagement ;-))

At the back of each picture I wrote: the date, the event of the photo, the location and who took it.

TO TAKE WITH YOU TO READ/LEARN BEFORE INTERVIEW – NOT AT ALL MANDATORY:

• Yours and your USC’s petitions (I-129F)
• The DS-160 (application)
• The IMBRA pamphlet

Side note: for EVERY DOCUMENT that I mentioned as “original”, I am bringing a copy of each as well in the folder. If asked by an officer to hand something over that I will not get back, I will ask them if it is ok for me to give them a copy.

Why am I doing this (and bringing so much)? Because this folder will also be my AOS folder and so on in the process…instead of just restarting it every time, I will just have to add the new info in there (like wedding pics and stuff) J

And that’s it! Again, let me know if I’ve forgotten something, if you think of something to add or if you have questions on that ^^ This is only meant to help out J

[mattelo 45]

I got everything in an email they sent me.

I guess if you didn't get it, it's because your appointment is before October or before the laboratory moves.

But yes, more details, or at least an exact date would be good!

Who sent you this email? The Dr Jolly?

But yeah, it seems like it doesn't concern me since my appointments are before October. At least something I won't have to do!!

Sonia, sending you a PM right away

[quentin955 4]

OMG!!! I can't believe they just added another test thank you for warning us!!

Do you live in or around Paris? Cause if you do, you can totally take the tests beforehand...I did mine a week or so before the medical ^^

That's a LOT of shots/surgery in just a few days, rest well this weekend!!

I actually talked about that in the review I wrote for that lab ^^ They will be at their new address starting October 3rd. It's written on their door so that's the first thing I noticed when I went there

I live around Paris, but I'm taking antibiotics right now, until next Saturday. I have to see the doctor for the shots, and unfortunately I don't know what my next days off will be, after October 2nd...

And I got an answer earlier today. Apparently it should not be a problem to get the gonorrhea test done at 8 or 8:30 if I have an appointment at 2:30... But she doesn't seem so sure about this.

So, yes, if I can take the tests beforehand, I will, it will be less stressful! Thanks for the tip.

And yes, I remember seeing the information about the new address in this thread before!

Who sent you this email? The Dr Jolly?

But yeah, it seems like it doesn't concern me since my appointments are before October. At least something I won't have to do!!

Yes! Doctor Jolly sent it to me! Or at least her assistant. So, yes, I think you don't have to worry about this! Lucky you! Haha

By the way, thank you Sonia for sharing with us everything you are bringing to the Embassy.

I think my binder has almost the same stuff in it, so it's kinda reassuring. I was wondering if I was bringing too much stuff.

But I guess it's good to show that we worked hard and well on our case, it shows we care!

[mattelo 45]

Quentin, thanks for your answer! So yeah, if it came from the Dr Jolly and that I got nothing, it probably means that I don't have to worry about that! Good to know!! As for the results for the gonorrhea test, I don't think it should be a problem. Your appointment with Dr Jolly will probably end up around 3, I'm sure by then she'll have received your results! A lot of people actually do everything in just a day (that's what I'm doing myself), so I wouldn't worry too much about that part

Oh and Sonia, thank you for telling me about the laboratory's new address! If October 3rd is written directly on the door, then it must be the definitive date, and it means that it's also something else that I don't have to worry about! Phew!

As for your list of documents, as I told you by PM, I just noticed your passport-style picture missing. And from Angie33's review, I would suggest you (and everybody else) to bring 2 pictures since Angie has been asked for 2 on the day of her interview!

That's really crazy that they don't provide us an exhaustive list of all the documents we're supposed to bring. We've heard so many different instructions, it's really confusing sometimes - and extremely stressful too!!!!! :-/

Edited September 19, 2016 by matt88

[TheLujums 21]

For the couples that already have an approved interview. Are you guys still waiting for the passport? How long did it take you guys?

[angie33 10]

I'm sure everything will be fine for everyone =D I'm sending you my good vibes!!!! =D

And yes 2 passport pictures are asked!

And I think also we should keep all the documents for the AOS as well! I don't have everything like Sonia but we all should lol!

Good luck to everyone!!!

[Sonia&Anthony 2]

I live around Paris, but I'm taking antibiotics right now, until next Saturday. I have to see the doctor for the shots, and unfortunately I don't know what my next days off will be, after October 2nd...

And I got an answer earlier today. Apparently it should not be a problem to get the gonorrhea test done at 8 or 8:30 if I have an appointment at 2:30... But she doesn't seem so sure about this.

So, yes, if I can take the tests beforehand, I will, it will be less stressful! Thanks for the tip.

And yes, I remember seeing the information about the new address in this thread before!

Yes! Doctor Jolly sent it to me! Or at least her assistant. So, yes, I think you don't have to worry about this! Lucky you! Haha

By the way, thank you Sonia for sharing with us everything you are bringing to the Embassy.

I think my binder has almost the same stuff in it, so it's kinda reassuring. I was wondering if I was bringing too much stuff.

But I guess it's good to show that we worked hard and well on our case, it shows we care!

Ahhh yes I see :-/

Oh and of course i just find it normal to share everything, it makes it way less stressful for others ^^

Good luck with everything!! Please keep us posted

Quentin, thanks for your answer! So yeah, if it came from the Dr Jolly and that I got nothing, it probably means that I don't have to worry about that! Good to know!! As for the results for the gonorrhea test, I don't think it should be a problem. Your appointment with Dr Jolly will probably end up around 3, I'm sure by then she'll have received your results! A lot of people actually do everything in just a day (that's what I'm doing myself), so I wouldn't worry too much about that part

Oh and Sonia, thank you for telling me about the laboratory's new address! If October 3rd is written directly on the door, then it must be the definitive date, and it means that it's also something else that I don't have to worry about! Phew!

As for your list of documents, as I told you by PM, I just noticed your passport-style picture missing. And from Angie33's review, I would suggest you (and everybody else) to bring 2 pictures since Angie has been asked for 2 on the day of her interview!

That's really crazy that they don't provide us an exhaustive list of all the documents we're supposed to bring. We've heard so many different instructions, it's really confusing sometimes - and extremely stressful too!!!!! :-/

DUH! I had the pictures in my binder and of course I forgot to write it down...I almost forgot to write 'passport' you know? haha so typical of me...making lists and forgetting to write down the essentials hahaha

[Sonia&Anthony 2]

Sooooo we got APPROVED today!!! And I'm so super ecstatic!!! It's such a nice feeling of relief, I can't wait for the rest of you guys to feel that lol

I wrote a review for the interview process that you can read here: http://www.visajourney.com/reviews/index.php?trim=no&cty=&cnty=&page=1&dfilter=5&topic=

But OF COURSE do not hesitate to PM me with questions if you want

Also, I asked the CO about this whole "issued" thing cause it's seems to be the talk of the day lol he did tell me that the "issued" status on the CEAC website meant that the visa had been printed on the passport and it was leaving their offices. Sooooo for anyone waiting for forever since that "issued" status, I would not only try to contact the Embassy but mostly the post office! They might be to blame for that!

GOOD LUCK GUYS

[TheLujums 21]

My baby got her passport today. She is arriving tomorrow POE MIA... We are sooo excited. We will make more comments when she arrives and we settle after all this visa journey =O

[TheLujums 21]

Sooooo we got APPROVED today!!! And I'm so super ecstatic!!! It's such a nice feeling of relief, I can't wait for the rest of you guys to feel that lol

I wrote a review for the interview process that you can read here: http://www.visajourney.com/reviews/index.php?trim=no&cty=&cnty=&page=1&dfilter=5&topic=

But OF COURSE do not hesitate to PM me with questions if you want

Also, I asked the CO about this whole "issued" thing cause it's seems to be the talk of the day lol he did tell me that the "issued" status on the CEAC website meant that the visa had been printed on the passport and it was leaving their offices. Sooooo for anyone waiting for forever since that "issued" status, I would not only try to contact the Embassy but mostly the post office! They might be to blame for that!

GOOD LUCK GUYS

CONGRATS

[frfrog 5]

yayyyyyyye the lujums and sonia!!!!im so happy for you!!!!!!!! :joy:

[TheLujums 21]

yayyyyyyye the lujums and sonia!!!!im so happy for you!!!!!!!! :joy:

I literally just sent you a message! lmao yayyy