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Posted

A visa for a step-son and one for a fiance are two different visas with different procedures so I could only answer this in a logical way and not from experience.

The purpose of the GSS system is mostly two-fold. One is to record your address where the embassy can mail whatever they need to mail to you, most importantly the passport with the visa in it.

The second objective of the GSS system is to instruct you on how to pay the visa application fee and to confirm payment of the fee. For a fiance visa this is done before sending in packet #3 to the Bangkok embassy (I don't know what other embassy's procedures are) so the embassy already has it before the fiance goes to the interview.

I believe some fees are paid at the embassy so if this is the case in your situation then I doubt they would need this confirmation page since you should receive a receipt directly from the embassy. If this is the case then they might want you to bring the receipt. This is all pure speculation.

Instructions for each type of visa are pretty clear so I guess I'd have to ask when, where and how do they want you to pay the visa application fee for your step-son's visa? The visa fee is different from the petition fee, at least it is for a fiance visa.

I'm not sure it matters where the visa was started. If he is interviewing at an embassy outside the US then read the embassy's instructions for your visa on their website.

10/11/2009 - Met in Thailand

12/30/2009 - Moved in together

I-129F (For Petitioner)

03/17/2015 - Mailed to US from Thailand

04/03/2015 - NOA1, Received at USCIS

04/07/2015 - Email saying routed to CSC

05/05/2015 - NOA2

06/02/2015 - Shipped to BNK Embassy

06/08/2015 - Finally got through to NVC and found out package had been shipped 6 days before.

Visa Application Process at Embassy for Fiance

06/09/2015 - Embassy received package.

06/15/2015 - Received Packet #3 in the mail. This is where I noticed the receving stamp from the Embassy.

08/08/2015 - Mailed Packet #3 (intentionally delayed)

08/09/2015 - Packet #3 received at Embassy

08/10/2015 - Received email from Embassy with appointment date of Aug 26th

08/26/2015 - Given passport back with 221(g) requesting more information to prove "Domicile"

------------ - We had a long voluntary delay for our own purposes which forced us to get another medical.

02/18/2016 - VISA APPROVED

03/04/2016 - Fiance arrived at LAX

03/14/2016 - Married

04/02/2016 - Mailed AOS to Chicago after getting certified copies of our Marriage Certificate

04/08/2016 - Immigration acknowledged receipt of all 4 forms via email and cashed the check for $1070

05/12/2016 - Boimetrics done.

07/25/2016 - Interview

08/01/2016 - Received 2-year GREEN CARD

04/24/2018 - Filed I-751 "Remove Conditions"

05/31/2018 - Rec'd NOA of I-751 filing  NOTE: Yes, it took that long

05/01/2019 - email to check status which said card was mailed

05/02/2019 - email to check status which said "Case Approved"

05/08/2019 - Received 10-Year GC in mail today.  Done!

Filed: Other Country: Thailand
Timeline
Posted

I believe some fees are paid at the embassy so if this is the case in your situation then I doubt they would need this confirmation page since you should receive a receipt directly from the embassy. If this is the case then they might want you to bring the receipt. This is all pure speculation.

Ours is a spouse visa, but we still had to include the GSS confirmation page despite dealing directly with the embassy here.

Posted

If you have already included the GSS Confirmation page or "proof of visa application fee payment" then I doubt they would need it again, but their instructions should tell you EVERYTHING you need to bring to the interview. If all else fails and you still need answers then email the embassy. In Bangkok they get back to almost everyone within 4 days or less.

10/11/2009 - Met in Thailand

12/30/2009 - Moved in together

I-129F (For Petitioner)

03/17/2015 - Mailed to US from Thailand

04/03/2015 - NOA1, Received at USCIS

04/07/2015 - Email saying routed to CSC

05/05/2015 - NOA2

06/02/2015 - Shipped to BNK Embassy

06/08/2015 - Finally got through to NVC and found out package had been shipped 6 days before.

Visa Application Process at Embassy for Fiance

06/09/2015 - Embassy received package.

06/15/2015 - Received Packet #3 in the mail. This is where I noticed the receving stamp from the Embassy.

08/08/2015 - Mailed Packet #3 (intentionally delayed)

08/09/2015 - Packet #3 received at Embassy

08/10/2015 - Received email from Embassy with appointment date of Aug 26th

08/26/2015 - Given passport back with 221(g) requesting more information to prove "Domicile"

------------ - We had a long voluntary delay for our own purposes which forced us to get another medical.

02/18/2016 - VISA APPROVED

03/04/2016 - Fiance arrived at LAX

03/14/2016 - Married

04/02/2016 - Mailed AOS to Chicago after getting certified copies of our Marriage Certificate

04/08/2016 - Immigration acknowledged receipt of all 4 forms via email and cashed the check for $1070

05/12/2016 - Boimetrics done.

07/25/2016 - Interview

08/01/2016 - Received 2-year GREEN CARD

04/24/2018 - Filed I-751 "Remove Conditions"

05/31/2018 - Rec'd NOA of I-751 filing  NOTE: Yes, it took that long

05/01/2019 - email to check status which said card was mailed

05/02/2019 - email to check status which said "Case Approved"

05/08/2019 - Received 10-Year GC in mail today.  Done!

  • 5 months later...
Filed: K-1 Visa Country: Thailand
Timeline
Posted

If you are paying in person at the bank it is supposed to take 24 hours or less. If you are paying by EFT or Electronic Fund Transfer then it can take up to 48 hours.

These are notes I wrote down with plans to maybe put them online one day.

Next we created a profile on the “cgifederal.secure.force” website which is needed to make the visa fee payment. Another important use this website has is to give your fiance's correct address where the embassy will mail anything they need to mail to your fiance. Most importantly, her passport with the visa in it at the end of this process.

The link is specific to THAILAND in English.

https://cgifederal.secure.force.com/?language=English&country=Thailand

There are two places you can find instructions for making your payment.

The link is specific to THAILAND in English:

http://www.ustraveldocs.com/th/th-niv-paymentinfo.asp#instructions

This link gives the most detailed instructions for Thailand. Here you can print the BAY Bank Deposit slip under the “Cash at Bank” instructions. There are two different places on this page from which you can print the BAY Bank deposit slip; they are both identical so it doesn’t matter which one you use to print the slip…assuming you will be going to the bank and paying in person as we did. This slip has two copies of the deposit slip on a single page; one is for the bank and one is given back to you as a half sheet as your bank receipt. It is very important for you to keep the one the bank gives back as it must be mailed to the Embassy in packet #3. I kept a high quality scan for my records in case it was lost.

A little more information here:

http://bangkok.usembassy.gov/niv_howtoapply.html

On this page the information is correct up until it talks about making the appointment which is not true for a K1 visa in Bangkok Thailand. In the case of a K1 Visa the embassy schedules your appointment after they have received and reviewed the Packet #3 documents.

https://cgifederal.secure.force.com/?language=English&country=Thailand

This is my experience with the payment fee website --- link repeated above. Click on the “New User”. There are two places you can do this to create your account, in the top instructions with the yellow background and towards the bottom of the page. Once you have created your account and are looking at your dashboard, click on the left-hand menu item “New Application / Schedule Appointment”.

You will step though answering some questions until you get to the payment options. We chose to print the bank deposit slip and go to the bank in person. Remember: Each Embassy will have their own specific instructions and most certainly with regard to which bank you must use. When you pick your payment option you will get a screen with “Payment Instructions” which has all the information on it you will need such as your expiration date, Receipt#, Virtual account# and CGI#. It is very important for you to save and print these instructions and take them to the bank with you. To do this press “CTRL+A” which will select everything, then press “CTRL+C” to copy everything, then open a Word document and paste everything into a new document by pressing “CTRL+V”, then print and save this new document. I saw no option to do any of this on the web page containing these instructions. Alternately, you can just go to your browsers “File” menu and print the instruction page. I would print it at least twice or make a copy.

NOTE: All important documents I scanned and stored in my computer.

At the bottom of the page with step #8 where it lists the fees you must pay, there is a spot for a “receipt number” at the bottom of the page. The part I blacked out above the Receipt Number is your fiancé’s name.

attachicon.gifCapture2.JPG

At this point you can go no further until you have paid the fee at the bank and wait until the next day by around noon or two days if you used EFT (Electronic Fund Transfer). After waiting almost a day or two, you can go back to this point by clicking “CONTINUE” which you will see at the top of the left-hand menu after logging back in to your account. When you get to this step #8 you should now see the “receipt number” filled in. Once you see this number filled in you can now click on “continue” at the bottom right of this page.

This is what I wasn’t so clear about. This receipt number, which is clearly shown on the payment instructions, is filled in AUTOMATICALLY within 24-48 hours after you make the payment at the bank. So you come back here the next day around noon and see if it is filled in or maybe two days for electronic fee payment. Ours was there at just before 10:30am the next day. At this point, you can click on continue at the bottom-right of this page.

NOTE: Once you make payment, it is my firm belief that all of this is controlled automatically between the bank's computer systems and the state department's website. I seriously doubt the Embassy has any involvement in monitoring payments on a daily basis and making sure receipt numbers fill in within 24 hours of payment. It makes 100% sense when you think about the ETF taking 48 hours. An extra day is needed for the transfer from your bank to the Embassy's bank. Banks like to do their processing at night after closing hours so one night to process the transfer and one night to process the payment. Paying in person only takes one night of processing.

The next page presented is your Completed Transaction -- click on Printable Version. The file downloaded is a PDF file. When I downloaded it the file was not named correctly, it did not have the “.PDF” extension on it so my computer did not recognize it as a PDF file. If this is the case for you just click once on the file to highlight the file on your computer and then hit F2 to edit the filename…you want to add “.PDF” to the end of the filename, without the double-quote, of course. Now your computer will recognize it as a file which can be opened by Adobe Reader when you double-click on the file…then you can print it from within Adobe Reader. This file has barcodes in it that you will need. This printout needs to be mailed to the Embassy in packet #3.

i want to thank you for taking the time to post these details. i swear i don't know what i would've have done without the VJ website!

  • 6 months later...
Filed: K-1 Visa Country: Pakistan
Timeline
Posted

Do you have to bring it to the interview if you already sent it in in Packet 3? We sent ours in in Packet 3 and now when trying to access the confirmation page, the receipt number isn't automatically filled in in the text box. I'm trying to retrieve the receipt number somewhere in my digital and physical records, but if it's not crucial to send it and bring it in, I won't bother.

Posted (edited)
2 hours ago, robinbecki said:

Do you have to bring it to the interview if you already sent it in in Packet 3? We sent ours in in Packet 3 and now when trying to access the confirmation page, the receipt number isn't automatically filled in in the text box. I'm trying to retrieve the receipt number somewhere in my digital and physical records, but if it's not crucial to send it and bring it in, I won't bother.

I assume you are talking about bringing that final page with the barcode from the "cgifederal.secure.force” website or what they refer to as GSS or creating your "Profile" after the receipt number fills in once you have made your payment at the bank.

 

NOTE:  Whenever you print a critical document during any of this process scan it and store it for later retrieval.  Every critical document I ever printed or created is still stored on my computer.  The receipt number is on the bank receipt you got from the bank...at least that is what my memory says.

 

Sending it in packet #3 should be all you need, but why not bring it to the interview just in case...assuming you have it.  After all, it is only a single piece of paper.  Secondly, I wouldn't worry too much if you have received your letter for an interview and it came with no instructions to bring this page.  That would seem to say all is in order, but again, why not bring it.  Always better to be safe than sorry.

 

Edited by khrfx4

10/11/2009 - Met in Thailand

12/30/2009 - Moved in together

I-129F (For Petitioner)

03/17/2015 - Mailed to US from Thailand

04/03/2015 - NOA1, Received at USCIS

04/07/2015 - Email saying routed to CSC

05/05/2015 - NOA2

06/02/2015 - Shipped to BNK Embassy

06/08/2015 - Finally got through to NVC and found out package had been shipped 6 days before.

Visa Application Process at Embassy for Fiance

06/09/2015 - Embassy received package.

06/15/2015 - Received Packet #3 in the mail. This is where I noticed the receving stamp from the Embassy.

08/08/2015 - Mailed Packet #3 (intentionally delayed)

08/09/2015 - Packet #3 received at Embassy

08/10/2015 - Received email from Embassy with appointment date of Aug 26th

08/26/2015 - Given passport back with 221(g) requesting more information to prove "Domicile"

------------ - We had a long voluntary delay for our own purposes which forced us to get another medical.

02/18/2016 - VISA APPROVED

03/04/2016 - Fiance arrived at LAX

03/14/2016 - Married

04/02/2016 - Mailed AOS to Chicago after getting certified copies of our Marriage Certificate

04/08/2016 - Immigration acknowledged receipt of all 4 forms via email and cashed the check for $1070

05/12/2016 - Boimetrics done.

07/25/2016 - Interview

08/01/2016 - Received 2-year GREEN CARD

04/24/2018 - Filed I-751 "Remove Conditions"

05/31/2018 - Rec'd NOA of I-751 filing  NOTE: Yes, it took that long

05/01/2019 - email to check status which said card was mailed

05/02/2019 - email to check status which said "Case Approved"

05/08/2019 - Received 10-Year GC in mail today.  Done!

  • 1 year later...
Filed: K-1 Visa Country: Thailand
Timeline
Posted
On 12/3/2015 at 4:22 PM, khrfx4 said:

This is what I wasn’t so clear about. This receipt number, which is clearly shown on the payment instructions, is filled in AUTOMATICALLY within 24-48 hours after you make the payment at the bank. So you come back here the next day around noon and see if it is filled in or maybe two days for electronic fee payment. Ours was there at just before 10:30am the next day. At this point, you can click on continue at the bottom-right of this page.

 

Thanks for taking the time to document your experience.   2 1/2 years later they are still helpful.  

 

Just to add a note of clarification for future readers of this thread, the Traveldocs site will update around noon (Bangkok Time) the day after the fees are paid.   At first I assumed the update would occur at noon EST or PST time, but it makes sense that it would be BKK time.

Filed: K-1 Visa Country: Thailand
Timeline
Posted

Great info within this thread, thanks to everyone for sharing your experiences! We received our NOA2 a few weeks ago and have been preparing for packet 3. I agree with everyone, it's a bit confusing. Interestingly enough, my fiance is actually a Filipina and from what I've seen, their process is very streamlined compared to Thailand. 

  • 2 months later...
Posted
5 hours ago, John951 said:

Can I make the GSS profile for her or is it required that she make the profile ?

As far as I know, it doesn't matter who creates the profile.  All you are doing is creating a profile after you have registered with an ID and Password.  From the ID and Password the embassy has no idea who made the profile.  I made the profile for my fiance.

 

Really, as far as the embassy is concerned, once the petition has been granted and they mail everything from the US to the embassy for the next part of the process, they are dealing with the petitioner or the fiance, but that doesn't mean you can't help in every way you can.  I basically did everything for my fiance except when it came to her signature and, of course, the interview.

 

10/11/2009 - Met in Thailand

12/30/2009 - Moved in together

I-129F (For Petitioner)

03/17/2015 - Mailed to US from Thailand

04/03/2015 - NOA1, Received at USCIS

04/07/2015 - Email saying routed to CSC

05/05/2015 - NOA2

06/02/2015 - Shipped to BNK Embassy

06/08/2015 - Finally got through to NVC and found out package had been shipped 6 days before.

Visa Application Process at Embassy for Fiance

06/09/2015 - Embassy received package.

06/15/2015 - Received Packet #3 in the mail. This is where I noticed the receving stamp from the Embassy.

08/08/2015 - Mailed Packet #3 (intentionally delayed)

08/09/2015 - Packet #3 received at Embassy

08/10/2015 - Received email from Embassy with appointment date of Aug 26th

08/26/2015 - Given passport back with 221(g) requesting more information to prove "Domicile"

------------ - We had a long voluntary delay for our own purposes which forced us to get another medical.

02/18/2016 - VISA APPROVED

03/04/2016 - Fiance arrived at LAX

03/14/2016 - Married

04/02/2016 - Mailed AOS to Chicago after getting certified copies of our Marriage Certificate

04/08/2016 - Immigration acknowledged receipt of all 4 forms via email and cashed the check for $1070

05/12/2016 - Boimetrics done.

07/25/2016 - Interview

08/01/2016 - Received 2-year GREEN CARD

04/24/2018 - Filed I-751 "Remove Conditions"

05/31/2018 - Rec'd NOA of I-751 filing  NOTE: Yes, it took that long

05/01/2019 - email to check status which said card was mailed

05/02/2019 - email to check status which said "Case Approved"

05/08/2019 - Received 10-Year GC in mail today.  Done!

  • 9 months later...
Filed: Country: Thailand
Timeline
Posted
On 10/31/2014 at 9:30 PM, dakotatp said:

We completed the DS-260, submitted it online and printed out the application and confirmation.

We also created a profile at www.ustraveldocs.com/th and printed out a “Transaction Confirmation,” which consists of one page.

What exactly is the GSS Registration Confirmation page? We’re confused about this.

Our Packet 3 documents are ready. We’re just waiting for the Police Clearance Certificate.

At what point do we go to Krung Sri Bank to pay? Or can we pay at The Embassy on the day of the interview?

How soon after you brought the DS-260 receipt, the I-864 and the other required documents to the  Bangkok Embassy did you go for the Police Clearance Certificate and medical exam? Was your case number enough validation to get those procedures?

Posted
35 minutes ago, SonofBaraka said:

How soon after you brought the DS-260 receipt, the I-864 and the other required documents to the  Bangkok Embassy did you go for the Police Clearance Certificate and medical exam? Was your case number enough validation to get those procedures?

  

I documented my entire process......here is the link:

https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/777965-us-ir1-visa-dc-filing-timeline/#comments

Filed: Country: Thailand
Timeline
Posted

This is copied from the State Department's webite:

Medical Exam Instructions

All immigrant visa applicants, regardless of age, require a medical examination prior to the issuance of a visa. Only a physician accredited by the U.S. Embassy can perform this exam. It is your responsibility to schedule a medical exam with one of the doctors listed below before your visa interview appointment at the U.S. Embassy. Medical examination results from other physicians will not be accepted. If your medical examination report will not be completed by the time of your interview appointment (due to ongoing testing, treatment or other reason), it must be rescheduled until you receive your completed medical examination report. You can contact visasbkkiv@state.gov to reschedule your visa interview appointment.

 

Items to bring to your medical examination

The doctor will need the following items to complete the medical exam forms:

  • Your visa interview appointment letter,
  • Your passport,
  • Four (4) recently taken passport-sized color photographs,
  • A copy of your immunization records, and
  • Medical records for any illness, major surgery/trauma, or physical/mental impairment that you are currently being treated for or for which you previously were seen by a doctor.

Did I read that correctly? Are they saying we can schedule her medical appointment before she schedules her interview, but won't get the forms back until she schedules her interview appointment? Will she have to pick up the forms in person or can they mail them to her? I assume they have the forms, not her.

 

  • 4 weeks later...
Filed: K-1 Visa Country: Thailand
Timeline
Posted

It says that you have to have your medical exam done before the interview.

Of course it means that you have to schedule your interview first to be able to schedule your medical appointment. Catch 22 :)

I also had problem understanding it first.

 
Didn't find the answer you were looking for? Ask our VJ Immigration Lawyers.

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