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Lenny&Sanna

Any Finnish/American Couples?

By Lenny&Sanna in Europe & Eurasia (except the UK and Russia)

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susan. Contributor

susan.   11

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Filed: IR-1/CR-1 Visa Country: Finland
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Lenny&Sanna, we're both currently living in Southern Finland, on the coast. We've been married for several years now and have two little kids. Danica1, it's actually not the process that scares me, it's what's going to happen after that ;) . Moving with kids can be a challenge... Having followed Ellinora's journey (hi :) ! ) I already have realistic expectations when it comes to processing times. *sigh*

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JACo
JACo

Hi! We are a Finnish/American couple that's desperately waiting for NOA2 from CSC.. I am the Finnish part though. Out of the two of us, I am the one who looks into things and panics and reports to h

Birdo
Birdo

Well I'm part of a Finnish-American couple but I've lived in the States since 1991 so not going through any of the K-1 or other processes anymore... But I noticed your fiance lives in Tampere and that

Birdo
Birdo

The Citizenship is awesome and the Oath ceremony itself was very moving. I still cheer for Finnish athletes and so on. Some of the traditional foods are strange and I was never a fan of that sausag

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Ellinora Enthusiast

Ellinora   72

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Filed: Citizen (pnd) Country: Finland
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Posted

susan. let's hope my journey is the worst case scenario :lol: USCIS has probably picked up the pace a bit, although NVC now seems to be slowing down. Hopefully the process will get faster soon anyways, cause waiting 1,5 years for such clear cut cases as ours to be processed is unacceptable

IR1 took 520 days....

 

 

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Ellinora Enthusiast

Ellinora   72

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Filed: Citizen (pnd) Country: Finland
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I had my medical with Dr. Borgstrom at Eira hospital and it cost 400€ +vaccinations. I was told to bring 3 passport photos, ID and vaccination records with me, when I made the appointment. Dr. Borgstrom was really polite and restpectful. He did the minimal check up (heart, lungs, blood pressure) and asked me if I'm healthy and for possible dietary restrictions, which I think he noted in the papers. He also went through my vaccination records and noted them. He then gave me referrals for thorax and blood tests, and sent me downstairs to the lab. All in all I was at the hospital for 2hrs and everything went fine. Dr Borgstrom is quite elderly though and needed a magnifying glass to go through my vaccination papers etc., but otherwise I can recommend him. I prefer doctors who respect my right to privacy, so Dr. Borgstrom was a perfect fit for me :D He even apologized for having to ask such a personal question as 'are you pregnant at the moment'.

IR1 took 520 days....

 

 

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Ellinora Enthusiast

Ellinora   72

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Filed: Citizen (pnd) Country: Finland
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Hey guys, I added a review of my visa interview to the Finland page so you can check that out if you're interested.

Congratulations and thank you so much for posting the review! I'm super nervous about my interview next week, even though I have no reason to be :D I so hope that we get the visa in three days too. Did it come by mail or could you pick it up? If it came by mail, did it just come to your mailbox? I'm just curious, because I don't have any other ID than my passport, so if I have to pick it up from the post office, do I need to prove my identity somehow? So many questions :D

Congratulations again!

IR1 took 520 days....

 

 

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lumipallo Rookie

lumipallo   1

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Filed: K-1 Visa Country: Finland
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Posted (edited)

Thank you Ellinora! I did not pick up my visa from the post office, as it was not sent as a registered letter. I was able to pick it up from the closest pakettiautomaatti. I'm sure you'll be fine :)

Edited by lumipallo
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Ellinora Enthusiast

Ellinora   72

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Filed: Citizen (pnd) Country: Finland
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Thank you for answering Lumipallo!

I had my interview on Monday, will post an embassy review later, when I get the actual visa. They said they'd call me and I can come and pick it up, but haven't heard from them yet :unsure:

IR1 took 520 days....

 

 

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Lenny&Sanna Rising Star

Lenny&Sanna   114

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Filed: Lift. Cond. (apr) Country: Finland
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We have our interview scheduled for the 27th of this month....... how was your experience?

I-129F Petition
Service Center: Texas Service Center
I-129F Sent: 3/17/14
I-129F NOA1: 3/24/14
Alien Registration Number Changed: 3/25/14
I-129F NOA2: 8/25/14
Sent to NVC: 8/28/14
NVC Received: 9/8/14
Case # Assigned: 9/9/14
Left NVC: 9/11/14
Consulate Received: 9/16/14
Packet 3 Received (Instructions/Checklist): 9/19/14
Packet 3 Completed: 9/23/14
Medical Scheduled: 10/15/14
Packet 4 Received (Appointment Date): 10/2/14
Interview Date (Helsinki Consulate): 10/27/14
Interview Result: APPROVED!
Visa Received: 10/31/14
POE/Baltimore (BWI): 12/9/14
Married: 1/12/15
 
Adjustment of Status I-485
Service Center: National Benefits Center
I-485 Sent: 1/24/15
Delivered to Chicago Lockbox: 1/27/15
Check Cashed by USCIS: 2/2/15
NOA 1: 1/30/15
Biometrics Appointment: 3/13/15
Biometrics Completed (USCIS Baltimore) 3/13/15
Letter from DHS Advising of Potentially no Interview Required for our Case: 6/15/15
Case Transferred to Kansas City Missouri Field Office: 1/26/16
RFE Received Wanting a New Vaccination Supplement: 2/4/16
Appointment Scheduled with Civil Surgeon: 2/15/16
Appointment Cancelled due to Weather Conditions: 2/15/16
Appointment Re-Scheduled with Civil Surgeon: 2/16/16
Civil Surgeon Completed I-693 Vaccination Supplement Needed: 2/16/16
RFE Response Sent to Kansas City Field Office via USPS: 2/16/16
Delivered to USCIS Field Office by USPS: 2/19/16
Signed Return Receipt Receipt in Mail from USCIS: 2/22/16
I-485 Notification Application APPROVED - No Interview: 2/23/16
NOA 2 Approval Notice Received Through Mail: 2/27/16
Green Card Sent Through Mail Notification: 2/26/16
Received Card in Mail: 3/2/16
 
Employment Authorization I-765
Service Center: National Benefits Center
I-765 Sent: 1/24/15
Delivered to Chicago Lockbox: 1/27/15
NOA 1: 1/30/15
Biometrics Appointment: 3/13/15
Biometrics Completed (USCIS Baltimore) 3/13/15
EAD Approved: 3/30/15
Received Card in Mail: 4/8/15
---------------------------------------------
Sent Renewal I-765 to Chicago Lockbox: 1/30/16
Delivered to Chicago Lockbox: 2/3/16
NOA 1: 2/8/16
Biometrics Appointment: 3/2/16
No need to get them done due to getting Green Card
 
Removal of Conditions on Residence I-751
Service Center: Vermont Service Center
I-751 Sent: 1/16/18
Delivered to Center: 1/19/18
 NOA 1: 1/24/18
Case Approved: 4/2/19
GC Received in Mail: 4/15/19
 
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Ellinora Enthusiast

Ellinora   72

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Filed: Citizen (pnd) Country: Finland
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Congratulations Lenny&Sanna on your interview date!

My interview was very short and friendly, they asked the following questions:

-why are you moving to the U.S?
-how long have you been married?
-where did you meet? Which university?
-do you have kids? How many? Are they already citizens?
-where are you moving?
-when are you moving
I had a bunch of evidence with me, but they never asked to see any of it. I was at the consulate in Kaisaniemi at 8.50am and left 9.45am. Most of the time was spent waiting for my turn. The actual interview was max. 5 mins. I'll pick up the visa later today.
Let me know if there's anything else you'd like to know! Good luck!

IR1 took 520 days....

 

 

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danica1 Apprentice

danica1   4

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Filed: IR-1/CR-1 Visa Country: Finland
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Posted

Yay! Got a case complete last week! Even though I don't have an interview date yet, I went ahead and scheduled an appointment for the medical already. Apparently you're supposed to bring 6 passport photos now :wow: And I'm assuming these are the costly US ones :ranting:

CR-1

07-26-2013 I-130 Sent (Chicago Lockbox)
07-31-2013 NOA1 (Case at National Benefits Center)
01-14-2014 Case transferred to California Service Center due to backlog
03-18-2014 RFE for marriage certificate
03-19-2014 RFE sent
05-12-2014 NOA2
06-27-2014 Case at NVC / Receive case # and AOS fee bill
06-27-2014 Pay AOS
06-29-2014 Submit DS-261 - shows COMPLETE
07-03-2014 AOS fee shows PAID
07-06-2014 Send AOS package
07-08-2014 Re-submit DS-261 because it appeared as INCOMPLETE
07-10-2014 AOS scan date
08-12-2014 Send IV package

08-14-2014 IV scan date
08-15-2014 Receive IV bill
08-16-2014 Pay IV fee

08-20-2014 IV fee shows PAID
08-20-2014 Submit DS-260
08-28-2014 Checklist for AOS - missing tax transcript & incomplete Part 3 on I-864EZ
09-12-2014 AOS checklist Scan date

10-17-2014 CASE COMPLETE!!!! :dance:
11-19-2014 Interview
12-09-2014 POE @ IAD :dancing:

I-751 Removal of Conditions
09-26-2016 I-751 sent (Vermont)

09-30-2016 NOA1

10-15-2016 ASC Appointment notice

11-01-2016 Biometrics date

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Lenny&Sanna Rising Star

Lenny&Sanna   114

Posted
Filed: Lift. Cond. (apr) Country: Finland
 Timeline
  • Author
Posted (edited)

Just wanted to let you all know, my fiance had her interview in Helsinki today and she was approved :):dancing:

I will have her fill out the Review on here on her experiences as well :)

Edited by Lenny&Sanna
I-129F Petition
Service Center: Texas Service Center
I-129F Sent: 3/17/14
I-129F NOA1: 3/24/14
Alien Registration Number Changed: 3/25/14
I-129F NOA2: 8/25/14
Sent to NVC: 8/28/14
NVC Received: 9/8/14
Case # Assigned: 9/9/14
Left NVC: 9/11/14
Consulate Received: 9/16/14
Packet 3 Received (Instructions/Checklist): 9/19/14
Packet 3 Completed: 9/23/14
Medical Scheduled: 10/15/14
Packet 4 Received (Appointment Date): 10/2/14
Interview Date (Helsinki Consulate): 10/27/14
Interview Result: APPROVED!
Visa Received: 10/31/14
POE/Baltimore (BWI): 12/9/14
Married: 1/12/15
 
Adjustment of Status I-485
Service Center: National Benefits Center
I-485 Sent: 1/24/15
Delivered to Chicago Lockbox: 1/27/15
Check Cashed by USCIS: 2/2/15
NOA 1: 1/30/15
Biometrics Appointment: 3/13/15
Biometrics Completed (USCIS Baltimore) 3/13/15
Letter from DHS Advising of Potentially no Interview Required for our Case: 6/15/15
Case Transferred to Kansas City Missouri Field Office: 1/26/16
RFE Received Wanting a New Vaccination Supplement: 2/4/16
Appointment Scheduled with Civil Surgeon: 2/15/16
Appointment Cancelled due to Weather Conditions: 2/15/16
Appointment Re-Scheduled with Civil Surgeon: 2/16/16
Civil Surgeon Completed I-693 Vaccination Supplement Needed: 2/16/16
RFE Response Sent to Kansas City Field Office via USPS: 2/16/16
Delivered to USCIS Field Office by USPS: 2/19/16
Signed Return Receipt Receipt in Mail from USCIS: 2/22/16
I-485 Notification Application APPROVED - No Interview: 2/23/16
NOA 2 Approval Notice Received Through Mail: 2/27/16
Green Card Sent Through Mail Notification: 2/26/16
Received Card in Mail: 3/2/16
 
Employment Authorization I-765
Service Center: National Benefits Center
I-765 Sent: 1/24/15
Delivered to Chicago Lockbox: 1/27/15
NOA 1: 1/30/15
Biometrics Appointment: 3/13/15
Biometrics Completed (USCIS Baltimore) 3/13/15
EAD Approved: 3/30/15
Received Card in Mail: 4/8/15
---------------------------------------------
Sent Renewal I-765 to Chicago Lockbox: 1/30/16
Delivered to Chicago Lockbox: 2/3/16
NOA 1: 2/8/16
Biometrics Appointment: 3/2/16
No need to get them done due to getting Green Card
 
Removal of Conditions on Residence I-751
Service Center: Vermont Service Center
I-751 Sent: 1/16/18
Delivered to Center: 1/19/18
 NOA 1: 1/24/18
Case Approved: 4/2/19
GC Received in Mail: 4/15/19
 
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