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Scienceteacher15

K1 Interview but Pregnant and Zika Virus Travel Alert in DR

By Scienceteacher15 in K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures

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Scienceteacher15 Explorer

Scienceteacher15   48

Posted
Filed: AOS (pnd) Country: Dominican Republic
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Posted

Got NOA2 Approval yesterday. I saw interviews available as soon as 2/10/16 for Dominican Republic. I am scheduled to visit Punta Cana March 13. We were planning to have a Babymoon at an all adult resort as this is the latest my doctor recommends that I travel and I am due May 1st. Now I am really stressing about the Interview stuff and all the Zika virus travel warnings for pregnant women that include the Dominican Republic. I am hopeful he will have a visa before our baby is born (after being advised by many on here in November there was no chance) but uncertain what I should do about making any trips while pregnant. I do not want to chance denial of the K1 simply because I am not there for the interview due the risk but I also do not want anything medically to happen to our baby. What should I do?

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JR loves JR Enthusiast

JR loves JR   196

Posted
Filed: AOS (apr) Country: Haiti
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Posted

Speak to your doctor about it. What I've been hearing is that the risk is mainly during the first trimester. I also haven't heard much about countries other than Brazil showing an increase of babies the specific birth defect that they are claiming is related to Zika. There's a rumor out there that Brazil started requiring TDAP vaccines for pregnant women about 10 months before the spike in this birth defect. They say that Brazil is using the Zika virus as a scapegoat. But your doctor is the only one who's going to know more than the news says. Either way you go, I wish you the best.

K-1 from Haiti - NOA1: 5/27/2014; NOA2: 7/8 USCIS never updated to say that it was sent to the NVC (just in case you're as concerned about your status not updating as I was about mine)
NVC Case Number Received: 7/31; Left NVC: 8/1 - tracked via DHL website; CEAC Status - Ready: 8/7; Packet 3 Received: 9/5 - Beneficiary received packet / Medical Completed: 9/19;
DS-160 Submitted: 9/22 - (CEAC date updated); Packet 3 Submitted: 9/26; Packet 4 Received: 10/24; Interview Date: 11/6 @ 7 am Interview Result: Approved!
CEAC Status Issued: 11/10; USTraveldocs.com finally acknowledged Fiance's passport actually in their system: 11/20; Passport Received: 11/21;

POE: 11/23/2014; Wedding: 2/14/2015

AOS/EAD/AP Filed: 2/21/2015;

USCIS EAD & AP received: 2/25; USCIS AOS received: 2/27; Received NOA1s in mail: 3/5; Biometrics: 3/26; EAD/AP Card in Production: 5/11; EAD/AP Card Mailed: 5/1; EAD/AP Card Received 5/19; NPIW Letter dated: 6/11/15; Green card Approved: 10/1/15;

Green card Received: 10/7/15

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lacolinab13 Enthusiast

lacolinab13   86

Posted
Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Peru
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Posted (edited)

I would recommend reading all of the information available on the CDC website, and speaking to an informed travel doctor and getting his recommendation. The bottom line is that 1) we still don't know much about the virus and how it causes birth defects, but what we've seen is cause for concern - though they have tentatively mentioned the first trimester as the riskiest time 2) the CDC recommends against non-essential travel to the region for pregnant women.

Only you can decide if you want to take the risk and whether the trip is "essential" (the vaca obviously isn't, but perhaps being there for the interview is). If you do go for the interview, you can use lots of precautions in terms of bug spray, permethrin-sprayed clothes etc etc ...

The vaccine rumor is completely unsubstantiated and I urge you to listen to experts, not conspiracy theories.

Edited by lacolinab13
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Scienceteacher15 Explorer

Scienceteacher15   48

Posted
Filed: AOS (pnd) Country: Dominican Republic
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Yes, I was hoping I could get the interview scheduled during the time I was already planning to go and for which I bought a plane ticket so that I am not making multiple trips against travel warnings. I went in December at 5 months pregnant and wore mosquito spray every day without even knowing about this virus at all. I did not see one mosquito or get any bites. I go to my doctor this week and have an ultrasound the following week so I will discuss it with my OBGYN and the maternal fetal specialist as well. I swear I never new immigration processes were so stressful. I have anew respect for immigrants. Does anyone have any experience with the embassy in Dominican Republic and if they would be understanding if i was not there for the interview?

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Ebunoluwa Veteran

Ebunoluwa   6,136

Posted
Filed: AOS (apr) Country: Cyprus
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Posted

Many K1's are denied in the DR and they usually want the petitioner to attend the interview however if I were you I would not travel

pregnant at this time and have your fiance submit a doctors statement with the reason. My priority would be the health of the baby.

Spoiler

 

I-129F Sent : 3-31-2014, NOA2: 4-6-2014

NVC Received : some dinkelsberry yehoo in the house of clingons send our petition to the wrong consulate.

Consulate Received : July 30,2014 Transfer to right embassy complete.

Interview Date : Oct 22, 2014

Interview Result : AP , requesting another PC (not expired) and certified divorce decree (was submitted)Stokes interview via phone for petitioner 4 hrs after interview.

Oct 23 email notification visa approved.
Visa Received : Nov. 3 , 2014 VISA IN HAND.

US Entry : Nov. 21, 2014

Marriage : Dec 27, 2014

AOS send : May 12, 2015, received May 14, 2015 USPS priority

Email &text : May 18, 2015, check cashed May 19,2015, return receipt May 21, 2015 stamped USCIS Lockbox, NOA1 (3x) May 22,2015

Biometrics : June 1, 2015 letter received for appointment June 8, 2015, successful walk-in June 1, 2015

RFE : June 12, 2015 for income not meeting guideline. Income does ( ! ) exceed guideline.

RFE response : June 26, 2015 returned with a boat load full of financial evidence.

UPDATE: July 5, 2015 updated on all 3 cases, RFE received June 30, 2015.

Service request : Aug 12, 2015, letter received that it will be processed within 90 days from receipt of RFE.

UPDATE: Aug 24, 2015, EAD card being produced/ordered. ( 102 days from AOS receipt day and 55 days from RFE response received.) Thank you Jesus !

Emails : Aug 24, 2015, EAD approved, EAD card ordered.

I-797 EAD/AP approval notice received : Aug 27, 2015

EAD/AP combo card mailed : Aug 27, 2015, EAD/AP combo card received: Aug 31, 2015

Renewal application send for EAD/AP : May 31,2016 (AOS pending over 1 year). Received June 2, 2016,Notice date June7, 2016, emails,texts, NOA1 hard copy

Service request for pending AOS April 21, 2016, case not assigned yet.
Service request for pending AOS June 14, 2016, tier 2 said performing background checks.
Expedite request for EAD/AP Aug 3, 2016, Aug10 notification >request was received, assigned, completed. RFE letter requesting evidence for expedite, docs faxed Aug18

*Service request for I-485 Aug 3, 2016, Aug11 notification> request was assigned. Service request Dec 2, 2016.
AOS Interview letter received Aug 12, 2016

AOS Interview September 21, 2016.

Second Biometrics appointment letters received for EAD and AOS on Aug 15, 2016 for Aug 17 ( 2 day notice).

Second Biometrics completed Aug 17, 2016

Third Biometrics appointment letter received Aug 19, 2016 for Sept. 1, 2016. WTH ?!

EAD/AP (renewal) approval Aug 22, 2016, NOA2 received Aug 25, 2016

Renewal EAD in production notification text and online, expedite successful 4 days after RFE request response was faxed, Aug25mailed,Aug29received.

Sept. 21 Interview, 2 hour interview, we were separated and asked about 50 questions each for an hour each. IO was firm but professional, some smiles.
Several service requests made, contacted Senator and Ombudsman. Background checks still pending.
July 21, 2017 HOME VISIT.  Went well. Topic thread in AOS forum.
Waiting to skip ROC and get 10 yr GC due to over 2 year while pending AOS
AOS APPROVED Oct. 4, 2017 * Green card in hand Oct 13, 2017 !!!!!

First K1 denied after 16 month of AP. Refiled. We are a couple since 2009. Not a sprint but a matter of endurance.

 

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lacolinab13 Enthusiast

lacolinab13   86

Posted
Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Peru
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Posted

I don't know much about the DR embassy, but I assume others must be a similar situation re: travel to the DR when pregnant in light of the Zika epidemic. Have you tried posting this in your regional forum?

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phd1974 Collaborator

phd1974   17

Posted
Filed: K-1 Visa Country: Dominican Republic
 Timeline
Posted

Alternately .... you can contact the embassy and explain the situation and ask for guidance OR once you receive your interview date ... ask that your interview date is postponed til a later date (not too late though). Just an option.

Jan 25, 2014: I-129F Sent

Feb 13, 2014: NOA1

Apr 15,2014: NOA2 Notice Via USCIS Web Site

Apr 22, 2014: NOA2 Received In Postal Mail

Apr 28: 2014: NVC Received

Apr 30: 2014: NVC Left

May 09, 2014: Embassy Received

Jul 08, 2014: Interview - Approved - CEAC Status Ready

Jul 14 2014: CEAC updated but still READY Status

Jul 16 2014: CEAC Status changed to Administrative Processing

Jul 22 2014: CEAC Status changed to Issued

Jul 28 2014: VISA received

Aug 06 2014: U.S. Arrival (Ft. Lauderdale POE)

Children (3 kids)

Apr 28 2015: Filed I130 petition for each child

Aug 21 2015: Notice from USCIS that all 3 petitions transferred to California Service Center

Sep 17 2015: Approval for all 3 petitions

Nov 12 2015: Paid one AOS fee for all 3 children

Nov 13 2015: Paid separate IV fees for all 3 children

Dec 04 2015: Filed Affidavit of Support (I864) for each child

Jan 12 2016: Received RFE for missing birth certificate from one of the kids packet

Jan 13 2016: Sent in RFE evidence ( birth certificate copy .... again O_o )

Jan 19 2016: Received notice that they received the RFE evidence

Feb 22 2016: Called and found out another RFE was being sent out about birth certificate

Feb 24 2016: Sent in (inextensa versions, not de acta versions) of birth certificates for all children

Mar 02 2016: Received notice that they received the RFE evidence

Mar 11 2016: NVC Process finished, now awaiting interview time slot to be scheduled

Mar 29 2016: Called NVC and found out today they scheduled interview

Apr 01 2016: Received Packet 4 notice via e-mail with interview date

Apr 25 2016: Children received P4 letters in the mail

May 19 2016: Interview

Jun 03 2016: Received Visas

Jul 06 2016: Travel to US

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TBoneTX Grand Master

TBoneTX   45,319

Posted
Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Ecuador
 Timeline
Posted

It has been that the petitioner's presence is desirable, if not mandatory, for K-1 interviews in Santo Domingo.

If the embassy is in an urban area, one would think that mosquitoes, including carriers, would be fewer than in the countryside.

06-04-2007 = TSC stamps postal return-receipt for I-129f.

06-11-2007 = NOA1 date (unknown to me).

07-20-2007 = Phoned Immigration Officer; got WAC#; where's NOA1?

09-25-2007 = Touch (first-ever).

09-28-2007 = NOA1, 23 days after their 45-day promise to send it (grrrr).

10-20 & 11-14-2007 = Phoned ImmOffs; "still pending."

12-11-2007 = 180 days; file is "between workstations, may be early Jan."; touches 12/11 & 12/12.

12-18-2007 = Call; file is with Division 9 ofcr. (bckgrnd check); e-prompt to shake it; touch.

12-19-2007 = NOA2 by e-mail & web, dated 12-18-07 (187 days; 201 per VJ); in mail 12/24/07.

01-09-2008 = File from USCIS to NVC, 1-4-08; NVC creates file, 1/15/08; to consulate 1/16/08.

01-23-2008 = Consulate gets file; outdated Packet 4 mailed to fiancee 1/27/08; rec'd 3/3/08.

04-29-2008 = Fiancee's 4-min. consular interview, 8:30 a.m.; much evidence brought but not allowed to be presented (consul: "More proof! Second interview! Bring your fiance!").

05-05-2008 = Infuriating $12 call to non-English-speaking consulate appointment-setter.

05-06-2008 = Better $12 call to English-speaker; "joint" interview date 6/30/08 (my selection).

06-30-2008 = Stokes Interrogations w/Ecuadorian (not USC); "wait 2 weeks; we'll mail her."

07-2008 = Daily calls to DOS: "currently processing"; 8/05 = Phoned consulate, got Section Chief; wrote him.

08-07-08 = E-mail from consulate, promising to issue visa "as soon as we get her passport" (on 8/12, per DHL).

08-27-08 = Phoned consulate (they "couldn't find" our file); visa DHL'd 8/28; in hand 9/1; through POE on 10/9 with NO hassles(!).

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