July 2014 Interviews

[dwheels76 5,469]

Congratulations to all who received their interview dates for July. My wife's interview is on July 3rd at Islamabad. I had a couple questions; How much is the fee for the actual VISA? What should she be looking forward to in terms of the interview questions? I know there is an interview guide but I wanted to know and find out from those VJ members whose significant others had their interviews recently.

There is no fee for the Visa you paid the Visa fee at NVC $230 you paid. Nothing is paid at interview. After approval and you pick up your Visa packet you can then go to the USCIS ELIS site and pay the Green card production fee which is $165. You have 1 year to pay that. But most pay before they arrive to US but its not required.

Look at the standard basic interview questions in the guides. No telling what they will ask its case by case.

[FD&MDVL 58]

Very unlikely since the window of time is smaller and smaller. For almost all embassies to be in the interview queue for current month they are scheduling you need to be done by 15th.

They should be starting with August scheduling next Thursday I am estimating (I am pretty accurate on this). So just hold on.

And being here for August Interview thread not so bad we are a fun bunch.

I know..... was looking at the trends on the spreadsheet over the last year-- it is 99% an Aug interview.. more time to plan our reunion

[MoBar65 520]

You can't pay the ELIS fee until you have your passports back anyway, you'll need the A number on the visa in order to register online and make payment.

Forgotten about that... very few of us have an A# already.

[dwheels76 5,469]

I know..... was looking at the trends on the spreadsheet over the last year-- it is 99% an Aug interview.. more time to plan our reunion

That's the spirit. Plan that reunion. You are almost there. I know the waiting is a killer but that's what we here on the thread are for. Good times.

And really no trend to be found. Because this time last year the processing time at NVC was 30 to 45 days from NOA2 to getting an interview. Than they implemented that blasted new I-864 with about a 99% error rate and everything just went insane after that.

Funny when I got NOA2 back in 2012 the record for being at NVC was 11 days. I was so stoked to break that. Then USCIS lost my petition file. So I understand. And than well my whole immigration went south and I no longer have a reunion to plan, a husband to welcome or anything. . Sorry I had a moment.

But hey I have all of you.

[FD&MDVL 58]

That's the spirit. Plan that reunion. You are almost there. I know the waiting is a killer but that's what we here on the thread are for. Good times.

And really no trend to be found. Because this time last year the processing time at NVC was 30 to 45 days from NOA2 to getting an interview. Than they implemented that blasted new I-864 with about a 99% error rate and everything just went insane after that.

Funny when I got NOA2 back in 2012 the record for being at NVC was 11 days. I was so stoked to break that. Then USCIS lost my petition file. So I understand. And than well my whole immigration went south and I no longer have a reunion to plan, a husband to welcome or anything. . Sorry I had a moment.

But hey I have all of you.

I am sorry, I am not familiar with the details of your history, if you don't mind me asking, "what happened"-- ??

How does the saying go, "misery loves company"--- I didn't think about immigration laws when we got married and had children, I went with my heart and NEVER expected this trying JOURNEY. I read a posting the other day that seemed like a bad situation, I know that no matter what we should remain grateful for what we have and not FREAK OUT over what we don't have...

my story I have already dicussed openly here but I probably couldn't have done a worse job in planning and ended up with a 2.5+ year timeframe-- will be three years 12/1/14 (so it will never be three years)-- Nopt sure if I knew that when I started if we could have made it-- I was flying on the seat of my pants -- and sooooooo happy to be sooooo close to the end --

and yes thanks to all the support available here - knowing that when I discuss my problem that at least you understand is of value, so many people do NOT understand or care- including my congressman- who made these ridiculous laws--- I still do NOT understand WHY my wife could not come while our application was being processed with significant evidence of our relationship you would think she would have MORE reason to be allowed to pass-- but in THEIR eyes that is MORE reason to turn her down.... and I wonder with the laws apparently so strict HOW do we have 40 plus million undocumented residents? I am baffled- but just happy to be beyond the petition, application stages...

I buried my head in work (again) just to pass the time-- but soon will be able to look my family in the eye- and tell them how much I love them... something I am certain MOST people take for granted, and I never will again.

[wjones4736966 8]

The only paperwork they asked for was interview letter and courier receipt. Although I made sure he had copies of everything we submitted through the process, we didn't worry about new photos, letters, etc. and the CO had no interest in any of it anyway.

I'm curious why do so many people take copies of everything they submitted to the interview? The case file should have all of the original documents, as well as additional copies where requested. Has anyone experienced a problem at their interview by not having extra copies of these documents with them?

[dwheels76 5,469]

I'm curious why do so many people take copies of everything they submitted to the interview? The case file should have all of the original documents, as well as additional copies where requested. Has anyone experienced a problem at their interview by not having extra copies of these documents with them?

What I have found in my experience with others its more a better to have and not need. Also remember for most the petitioner is preparing and its always advised the beneficiary have a copy of everything to review and so they see everything the CO will be seeing.

And there have been some who have had documents lost things missed place and because the beneficiary came prepared no time was lost.

And yes the case file should have everything in it but things do get lost and misplaced.

[F2A PD 12/2/11 31]

Hey can you guys add me to the spread sheet.

CC 6/11/14 and waiting on interview date

Thanks guys

[r060106 109]

Just out of curiosity, does it help your case if the beneficiary's spouse is at the interview? Do COs like to see that? We have a daughter too. Should we bring her? Jw.Thanks

[Sukie 1,465]

Just out of curiosity, does it help your case if the beneficiary's spouse is at the interview? Do COs like to see that? We have a daughter too. Should we bring her? Jw.Thanks

My attorney said it was helpful to have the petitioner at the interview. It shows that the petitioner has made the effort to come to the beneficiary's country. Be sure your Embassy or Consulate allows it though. We had to get written permission (via email) for me to attend the interview.

Sukie in Oz

Edited June 21, 2014 by Sukie

[r060106 109]

My attorney said it was helpful to have the petitioner at the interview. It shows that the petitioner has made the effort to come to the beneficiary's country. Be sure your Embassy or Consulate allows it though. We had to get written permission (via email) for me to attend the interview.

Sukie in Oz

Interesting. I will definitely check.

The only problem for me is that I have just 6.5 days of vacation left for the year and want to go to the interview,but have read that it can take 5 business days just to get the visa via DHL. So I would be cutting it really close to be there for the interview and then possibly burn through everything for the rest of the year without any days to spare when my wife finally gets here, not helping her acclimate etc. What would you advise in my situation? Do you know if it takes Australia that long to get the visa to the beneficiary? Maybe it's just a Poland thing.

Thank you

[dwheels76 5,469]

Hey can you guys add me to the spread sheet.

CC 6/11/14 and waiting on interview date

Thanks guysou don't let me know. Welcome to the group.

You are added but I saw no case Complete from you but I added you anyway. No way for me to know who's here if you don't let us know. Welcome to the group.

[Sukie 1,465]

Interesting. I will definitely check.

The only problem for me is that I have just 6.5 days of vacation left for the year and want to go to the interview,but have read that it can take 5 business days just to get the visa via DHL. So I would be cutting it really close to be there for the interview and then possibly burn through everything for the rest of the year without any days to spare when my wife finally gets here, not helping her acclimate etc. What would you advise in my situation? Do you know if it takes Australia that long to get the visa to the beneficiary? Maybe it's just a Poland thing.

Thank you

The Australian Consulate says that it can take 1-3 days to place the stamp in the passport. We leave a self-addressed Express Post envelope with them, and they mail it to us via Australia Post. This can take 3-5 days. Our interview is on a Tuesday (July 1st). I think we'll get her passport back on Monday or Tuesday of the next week. So yes - sounds like about the same timeframe as Poland.

If think if I had to make a choice of taking my vacation days to go to the interview, or taking days off when my spouse arrived in the US, I, personally, would choose the latter, if you have confidence in your wife's being able to present well. Your wife will have some mild jet lag when she arrives in the US, and might appreciate having one or two days to get used to the new time zone, but then I'm sure she'd like some time with YOU!

Just my opinion...

Sukie in Oz

Edited June 21, 2014 by Sukie

[F2A PD 12/2/11 31]

You are added but I saw no case Complete from you but I added you anyway. No way for me to know who's here if you don't let us know. Welcome to the group.

I wount have a pc handy to update my timeline, i got my wifes CC on 6/11/14 and waiting for interview date ( COLOMBIA)

[r060106 109]

The Australian Consulate says that it can take 1-3 days to place the stamp in the passport. We leave a self-addressed Express Post envelope with them, and they mail it to us via Australia Post. This can take 3-5 days. Our interview is on a Tuesday (July 1st). I think we'll get her passport back on Monday or Tuesday of the next week. So yes - sounds like about the same timeframe as Poland.

If think if I had to make a choice of taking my vacation days to go to the interview, or taking days off when my spouse arrived in the US, I, personally, would choose the latter, if you have confidence in your wife's being able to present well. Your wife will have some mild jet lag when she arrives in the US, and might appreciate having one or two days to get used to the new time zone, but then I'm sure she'd like some time with YOU!

Just my opinion...

Sukie in Oz

Makes sense. I just don't want anything to go wrong at the interview and want it all to go well for her and with the visa. Obviously we got approved by USCIS, but weirder things have happened at interviews and I always fear the worst (I guess it's a consequence of this crazy process!). I just wish it wouldn't take so darn long to get the visa. You'd think they'd be able to just do it right there or something a little faster.

Thanks!