Scandinavians Part 2

[Paul & Mallory 1,398]

2 hours ago, Unidentified said:

You'll be fine. Customs in Sweden is not like the US where they might care about papers. 

I figured as much lol Thank you!

 

2 hours ago, Emmsan said:

You'll have no problem bringing your paperwork to Sweden... It's paper. Pack it in your carry on to make sure it doesn't get lost. 

Thanks!

[nasa2016 10]

Hej Scandinavians!

 

Question for you: have you ever had problems with US authorities (the passport administration in my case) not accepting a Swedish birth certificate as proof of parental relationship?

 

I'm trying to get a US passport for my son, see thread posted here: 

 

The most recent reply I got from the Western Passport Center said:

Quote

The birth certificate you submitted does not contain a file/registration date. A birth certificate that displays a file/registration date within one year of birth is sufficient for passport purposes. If the birth certificate contains a file/registration date one year after the date of the birth or does not contain a file/registration date, it is not sufficient for passport purposes. Therefore, we need early public records near the time of the birth to establish parental relationship.

Of course the "Extract of Population Registry" does not have a registration date, so they won't accept it. (The annoying thing is that I've actually gone through this process before, for my older son, and then I didn't have any problem at all with the process - so it seems kind of arbitrary).

 

Oh well, time to go find an accredited DNA sampler at AABB I guess, seems like it will be a couple of hundred dollars more for the passport :-(

 

/S

 

[SpidersWeb 16]

Hey Scandinavians,

 

I hope you don't mind that a Finn infiltrates this thread 

 

I received bad news on my EB-3 petition the other day. I waited 5 months for initial approval but I got a denial. It was very disappointing and frustrating because there was no reason for it. At the same time I was a bit amused by Trump's remarks about him wanting Norwegian immigrants. I guess us Finns are so different then 

 

Anyway, my immigration specialist explained at length what's going on with the USCIS. There has actually been a 45% (or 85,000) increase in RFEs during the first 8 months of the Trump administration. Attorneys have had to reply to RFEs sarcastically and by pointing out the absurdity.

 

In my case, the wording of my employment agreement has now been changed and the plan is to refile in 1.5-2 months with premium processing. Hopefully I'll only lose 2 months in time and I can still move to the US in 2018!

[Scandi 4,166]

4 hours ago, LizM said:

Hi all! For those of you who went over on a K-1: How did you solve the insurance situation? I've been looking around for advice on VJ and I understand that I'm eligible for the marketplace coverage as soon as we've filed for AoS. I was actually a bit surprised but it says that very clearly on the healthcare.gov web page. But what about the time in between entry and AoS filing? Will my Swedish coverage (hemförsäkring) do, since I won't actually have any sort of immigration status at that point?

 

Because he is still on his parents' insurance, we have to look elsewhere for how to get me covered. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

My hemförsäkring only covered the first 45 days. But my sjuk- och olycksfallsförsäkring that I had with Länsförsäkringar was still valid for 12 months after I moved.

[Unidentified 2,930]

On 2/2/2018 at 12:40 AM, nasa2016 said:

Hej Scandinavians!

 

Question for you: have you ever had problems with US authorities (the passport administration in my case) not accepting a Swedish birth certificate as proof of parental relationship?

 

I'm trying to get a US passport for my son, see thread posted here: 

 

The most recent reply I got from the Western Passport Center said:

Of course the "Extract of Population Registry" does not have a registration date, so they won't accept it. (The annoying thing is that I've actually gone through this process before, for my older son, and then I didn't have any problem at all with the process - so it seems kind of arbitrary).

 

Oh well, time to go find an accredited DNA sampler at AABB I guess, seems like it will be a couple of hundred dollars more for the passport :-(

 

/S

 

There's a government website somewhere that has a list of birth certificates from different countries and explanation for how they work. Some have sent that in with their visa applications just to be on the safe side. It might help you convince them that you have the proper documents but I can't remember where I found it. If someone else reading this know what I am talking about, maybe you guys can help out too! Don't know if that would help but it would be worth a try. 

[Unidentified 2,930]

4 hours ago, LizM said:

Hi all! For those of you who went over on a K-1: How did you solve the insurance situation? I've been looking around for advice on VJ and I understand that I'm eligible for the marketplace coverage as soon as we've filed for AoS. I was actually a bit surprised but it says that very clearly on the healthcare.gov web page. But what about the time in between entry and AoS filing? Will my Swedish coverage (hemförsäkring) do, since I won't actually have any sort of immigration status at that point?

 

Because he is still on his parents' insurance, we have to look elsewhere for how to get me covered. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

I got an insurance through this company during the time between my K1 entry and marriage: https://www.***removed***.com/ 

[nasa2016 10]

On 2/4/2018 at 7:10 AM, Unidentified said:

There's a government website somewhere that has a list of birth certificates from different countries and explanation for how they work. Some have sent that in with their visa applications just to be on the safe side. It might help you convince them that you have the proper documents but I can't remember where I found it. If someone else reading this know what I am talking about, maybe you guys can help out too! Don't know if that would help but it would be worth a try. 

Hi,

 

Thanks - the only list I know of is the department of state reciprocity table, https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/Visa-Reciprocity-and-Civil-Documents-by-Country/Sweden.html

and I already tried citing that. Definitely worth a try, but in my case it didn't help... But if anyone knows of a different list please share.

 

Regards,

 

/S

[Paul & Mallory 1,398]

Random question, when it comes to the evidence being requested in support of the I-134 (Affidavit of Support). Figured I'd ask here to fellow Scandinavians.

 

The directions with the I-134 request inclusion of:

A. Statement from an officer of the bank or other financial institutions with deposits, identifying the following details regarding the account:

• Date account opened;
• Total amount deposited for the past year; and
• Present balance

...among some other things, but my question is about the above point specifically.

 

I happen to be employed at the bank where I also bank personally. I visited two branches to request a statement from the bank providing the above details and both times was advised to print my bank statements to fulfill the deposit request and present balance, which of course does not reflect the date the account was opened. The second visit, they printed me something off a separate system that provides the account open date and shows the account is active, but it isn't an actual "statement" or even letter. I see people recommend requesting a custom letter from their bank, but I also happen to work in the department that handles those exact requests, so I was worried it would be some kind of conflict of interest. Instead, I've printed off regular bank statements, which will provide my current balance(s), the previous history, and show a running average balance. My employer also has a verification form specific to immigration, which provides a detailed summary of my pay history since my hire date, including all positions during my time working here going back to 2010. It includes date and amount of every paycheck I've ever gotten, my current employee status, corporate hire date, and current salary. I felt confident with that, but now that we're nearing crunch time, I'm beginning to second guess myself.

 

Long story short (sorry for the spiel, guys), my question is basically: What were others' experience, specific to the Stockholm office, when it comes to the documents they looked for/at along with the I-134 at the interview? I've read on other posts on VJ that if you're well enough above the poverty line, they don't really ask for much outside of recent paystubs/bank statements and some tax info, which I do have.

 

Any advice is appreciated!

 

[Scandi 4,166]

24 minutes ago, Paul & Mallory said:

Random question, when it comes to the evidence being requested in support of the I-134 (Affidavit of Support). Figured I'd ask here to fellow Scandinavians.

 

The directions with the I-134 request inclusion of:

A. Statement from an officer of the bank or other financial institutions with deposits, identifying the following details regarding the account:

• Date account opened;
• Total amount deposited for the past year; and
• Present balance

...among some other things, but my question is about the above point specifically.

 

I happen to be employed at the bank where I also bank personally. I visited two branches to request a statement from the bank providing the above details and both times was advised to print my bank statements to fulfill the deposit request and present balance, which of course does not reflect the date the account was opened. The second visit, they printed me something off a separate system that provides the account open date and shows the account is active, but it isn't an actual "statement" or even letter. I see people recommend requesting a custom letter from their bank, but I also happen to work in the department that handles those exact requests, so I was worried it would be some kind of conflict of interest. Instead, I've printed off regular bank statements, which will provide my current balance(s), the previous history, and show a running average balance. My employer also has a verification form specific to immigration, which provides a detailed summary of my pay history since my hire date, including all positions during my time working here going back to 2010. It includes date and amount of every paycheck I've ever gotten, my current employee status, corporate hire date, and current salary. I felt confident with that, but now that we're nearing crunch time, I'm beginning to second guess myself.

 

Long story short (sorry for the spiel, guys), my question is basically: What were others' experience, specific to the Stockholm office, when it comes to the documents they looked for/at along with the I-134 at the interview? I've read on other posts on VJ that if you're well enough above the poverty line, they don't really ask for much outside of recent paystubs/bank statements and some tax info, which I do have.

 

Any advice is appreciated!

 

Yeah they won't ask for much so don't overthink it. My husband is self-employed and we were approved just fine with just the latest tax return. No need to show assets in the bank account, no statement from a bank person etc.

Edited February 7, 2018 by Scandi

[Tekri 20]

Hi there ☺

Better ask my question here in this thread. 

Does my 8 year old son need to come with me at the embassy in Stockholm? 

Edited February 7, 2018 by Tekri

[Paul & Mallory 1,398]

8 minutes ago, Scandi said:

Yeah they won't ask for much so don't overthink it. My husband is self-employed and we were approved just fine with just the latest tax return. No need to show assets in the bank account, no statement from a bank person etc.

Thank you! I know no one can actually say for sure with these things, but it's comforting to get a second opinion like that from someone else. I really feel what I have already will suffice, but you always wonder about that one thing you don't have, I suppose.

[Scandi 4,166]

6 minutes ago, Tekri said:

Hi there ☺

Better ask my question here in this thread. 

Does my 8 year old son need to come with me at the embassy in Stockholm? 

If he is also applying for a visa, then yes, he needs to be interviewed as well.

[Scandi 4,166]

1 minute ago, Paul & Mallory said:

Thank you! I know no one can actually say for sure with these things, but it's comforting to get a second opinion like that from someone else. I really feel what I have already will suffice, but you always wonder about that one thing you don't have, I suppose.

Yes, I always bring way more than needed, better safe than sorry, right? And in every case not even half of what I bring is asked for, haha.

 

You'll be perfectly fine with tax return, some paystubs and a letter from your employer.

[Tekri 20]

Just now, Scandi said:

If he is also applying for a visa, then yes, he needs to be interviewed as well.

Thank you so much. I just keep hearing so many different things. Some say Kids under the age of 14 does not need to attend. 

I guess we will enjoy Sweeden for a few days 😄

[Paul & Mallory 1,398]

6 minutes ago, Scandi said:

Yes, I always bring way more than needed, better safe than sorry, right? And in every case not even half of what I bring is asked for, haha.

 

You'll be perfectly fine with tax return, some paystubs and a letter from your employer.

I'm the same way, which is why this started bugging me, LOL. I'm an over-preparer. But I think we'll be fine. Good thing is I will be over there with him while he has his interview so I won't be too far should anything come up.