Scandinavians Part 2

[Paul & Mallory 1,398]

On ‎4‎/‎28‎/‎2018 at 6:16 AM, LizM said:

Okay @Paul & Mallory @blenheim @camillamilla and anyone else who may have some input on the Stockholm embassy interview - what financial docs did they seem most interested in?

 

We will of course bring the I-134 (wet signature petitioner), the 1040 for 2017 (signed, but copy), employer's statement (wet signature by HR), salary raise letter (no signature), pay stubs for the last three or four months, letter from petitioner explaining his occupation (studies) before he started working in June 2017 (wet signature petitioner). I also got copies of his bank statements (one for every single one of the past 12 months) but they do not really say date opened. But then I read the I-134 instructions and they said to bring evidence that "apply to your situation". And we will rely on his income, not his assets/bank balance, for the sponsorship, so I'm not sure how important these bank statements are. 

If I remember correctly, Paul said they were most interested in my tax forms and just the affidavit itself. He said they didn't really look at anything else I gave him to bring. I'd also given him two recent bank statements (account number blacked out) and a letter from my bank confirming my current financial assets. Don't think they even looked at them lol. They may have glanced at it just to verify but didn't spend too much time there. He said they asked questions more than anything, asked him a few times in different ways what I do for a living and wanted details, I remember that.

[N-o-l-a 7,167]

2 minutes ago, LizM said:

Okay, I've printed the 1040 including the one Schedule D attachment that also said "Form 1040" (for Capital Gains and Losses). Then there are a bunch of other forms for different things and W2s but I assumed they were not a part of the 1040. Hope that's correct!

 

Thank you so much for your input @Scandi @camillamilla @blenheim. I hope I'm prepared enough and that worst case I'll just have to add something afterwards.

 

If you are presenting your tax return, you have to include all the forms, schedules, and W2s if I'm not mistaken.  Often it is just easier to do the transcript.

[N-o-l-a 7,167]

10 minutes ago, LizM said:

@N-o-l-a It doesn´t matter that the transcript is not signed? I have his signature on the 1040 pages I already printed so maybe I should just bring both the return pages I already printed and transcript.

 

Transcripts aren't signed because they are just a record of what was submitted.

[ML915 48]

On 01/05/2018 at 4:15 PM, Filip and Alix said:

Hi Scandis! 

My fiance and I are working on everything we need for the interview date (recieved at NVC but no case # yet). Filip spent three years in Portugal, he was not registered there, he has always been a resident of Norway. He paid Norwegian taxes during that time. He rented several different apartments over the 3 years in Portugal. Our K1 application has supporting evidence containing trips I took to Portugal to visit him while he was living there. 

So my question has to do with police records...I know he needs a copy of his Norwegian police record for the interview but what about Portugal? 

The Norwegian police record says it's valid only for Norway. The Portuguese one doesn't specify but it does state it's available to "former residents" 

If he was never registered or legally a resident there, does he need a copy of his police record for the time he was there ? 

Would they even have a document available to him? 

Any insight would be much appreciated. Thanks all!

I lived in London for five years, but I was in Norway long enough each year that I didn't ever register my move there. I'd be home a long time in the summers (uni summer break hehe) but from September to January I'd only be home over Christmas, so to me it seems I've spent such a considerable amount of time there it makes sense to bring one. I'd think if you've had a lot of time to commit any crimes they want proof you didn't 

No but personally, since he's rented several apartments and you've been visiting him there, I would bring one just to be sure!

[Paul & Mallory 1,398]

17 hours ago, LizM said:

Okay, I've printed the 1040 including the one Schedule D attachment that also said "Form 1040" (for Capital Gains and Losses). Then there are a bunch of other forms for different things and W2s but I assumed they were not a part of the 1040. Hope that's correct!

 

Thank you so much for your input @Scandi @camillamilla @blenheim. I hope I'm prepared enough and that worst case I'll just have to add something afterwards.

That sounds correct. 1040 is the main thing. I believe I only printed that particular page/form for my 2015 and 2016 taxes; I printed everything for 2017, but I don't think they looked at all the pages. 1040 is probably all they care about.

[MalachiPDX 111]

6 hours ago, ML915 said:

I lived in London for five years, but I was in Norway long enough each year that I didn't ever register my move there. I'd be home a long time in the summers (uni summer break hehe) but from September to January I'd only be home over Christmas, so to me it seems I've spent such a considerable amount of time there it makes sense to bring one. I'd think if you've had a lot of time to commit any crimes they want proof you didn't 

No but personally, since he's rented several apartments and you've been visiting him there, I would bring one just to be sure!

I second this , just include it. Getting an RFE for a document you could have sent in would be terrible. 

[N-o-l-a 7,167]

4 hours ago, LizM said:

Hej alla. Just checking in here to say thanks for all the help I've received from the this forum so far. I picked up my visa yesterday and I'm leaving Sweden for the US on the 24th of May. It all feels so surreal.

 

Until then, please let me know what I need to bring from Sweden that I can't easily get in the US (good chocolate is already on my list) . Cheers & good day to you all!

 

I have kind of weird things I usually bring back: Maria kex (the absolute best dipped in tea), the soft yellow (not microfiber) cleaning cloths*, and Danish children's books.  The books are good for adults learning too.

 

*My husband informs me these aren't supposed to last half a decade like mine do, but they seem to hold up fine in the washing machine.

[Filip and Alix 42]

Congrats @LizM!!! 

 

Our case was marked as "Ready" this morning by the NVC. Still no Packet 3 email yet ... patiently waiting ! How long after it says "ready" should we contact the embassy to see if there is an email address issue or something ?

You know this process makes you believe in all the small, medium and large worse case scenarios....thanks !

[Tekri 20]

1 minute ago, LizM said:

Thank you  

 

And ditto! That's awesome, I'm so happy everything's moving forward for you! I think if it was just this morning then no worries just yet. Have you gone ahead and scheduled your medical already? We got our checklist pretty much straight away after the Ready status but I do believe it depends on how many available appointments the embassy has to offer at the moment. Also remember the embassy will be closed tomorrow for Ascension day so that is most likely the reason if they're being a bit slow this week.

 

Probably you can go ahead with the DS-160 also, don't think you need the checklist for that, but someone correct me if I'm wrong.

No need for the checklist for ds 160. ☺

[Scandi 4,166]

8 hours ago, LizM said:

Good stuff. I was thinking about a brush with a handle for hand washing the dishes, too. We use them here always but they seem to love using just a sponge over there? And yes if we're thinking about the same kind of cloth here, then I must agree - they absolutely last forever if you boil/wash them every now and then. Quite excellent.

 

I would bring Swedish children's books but I think my fiancé would become a bit suspicious of my real intention with them  

Ikea has those brushes but so does Walmart, so no need to use your bag space for that. They even have them at Target, so I assume all regular stores do. Just not a major variety like in Sweden, but all you need is one.

 

Wettex are harder to find. 😄

[Paul & Mallory 1,398]

On ‎5‎/‎9‎/‎2018 at 5:15 AM, LizM said:

Hej alla. Just checking in here to say thanks for all the help I've received from the this forum so far. I picked up my visa yesterday and I'm leaving Sweden for the US on the 24th of May. It all feels so surreal.

 

Until then, please let me know what I need to bring from Sweden that I can't easily get in the US (good chocolate is already on my list) . Cheers & good day to you all!

Yay!!! That's right around the corner!!!

Paul will be here next Wednesday and I don't even know what to do with myself, I'm so excited.

 

He's definitely bringing chocolate! Mainly for me though... lol We have an Ikea nearby which sells the regular milk chocolate, but not all the different flavors. Also - if you do have an Ikea anywhere nearby, it'll be awesome! He's found a lot of things all the times we've gone there while he's visiting that remind him of home. The food market also has a lot of traditional food and whatnot. They even have princess cakes (I fell in love with those over there!) They're frozen, of course, but I think they taste pretty close to the real thing.

 

Paul isn't really super materialistic.. he's mostly bringing clothes and stuff. Of course, he's leaving a majority of his winter clothes behind.. don't need so much of those in South Carolina.  I think his main thing is sentimental stuff.

 

23 hours ago, LizM said:

Good stuff. I was thinking about a brush with a handle for hand washing the dishes, too. We use them here always but they seem to love using just a sponge over there? And yes if we're thinking about the same kind of cloth here, then I must agree - they absolutely last forever if you boil/wash them every now and then. Quite excellent.

 

I would bring Swedish children's books but I think my fiancé would become a bit suspicious of my real intention with them  

We have those brushes here! If not at Ikea, anywhere like Target or Walmart for sure has them. I actually use one of those at home myself  

[N-o-l-a 7,167]

45 minutes ago, Paul & Mallory said:

 

We have those brushes here! If not at Ikea, anywhere like Target or Walmart for sure has them. I actually use one of those at home myself  

 

They are pretty standard fare even if you also have a sponge.  

 

 

I wish our Ikeas were closer.  We do have one in Minnesota, but it is a 5-6 hour trip.  We usually go to the one in Canada that is 2.5 hours away, but it is a hassle especially now that I haven't renewed my passport.  Well, it is a hassle in general with 3 kids and no gigantic SUV.  If we bring the pick-up truck there is no room for stuff inside and if we bring the car, no room for big stuff.

 

A lot of the supermarkets in MN/ND have Scandinavian foods, so at least there is that.

[Paul & Mallory 1,398]

39 minutes ago, N-o-l-a said:

 

They are pretty standard fare even if you also have a sponge.  

 

 

I wish our Ikeas were closer.  We do have one in Minnesota, but it is a 5-6 hour trip.  We usually go to the one in Canada that is 2.5 hours away, but it is a hassle especially now that I haven't renewed my passport.  Well, it is a hassle in general with 3 kids and no gigantic SUV.  If we bring the pick-up truck there is no room for stuff inside and if we bring the car, no room for big stuff.

 

A lot of the supermarkets in MN/ND have Scandinavian foods, so at least there is that.

Oh wow - 5 hours is a lot lol I live about an hour away from ours in Charlotte (I live in South Carolina but close to the NC border). Still a drive, but at least doable for an afternoon. Paul has already asked we go there the weekend after he gets here, lol. You can take the man out of Sweden...

 

Having anything Scandinavian nearby is helpful! Ikea is really the only place we have; no other stores or restaurants with anything Scandinavian, so it's good we're close to ours. He's also Filipino, and we found an Asian market in Charlotte that he loves, for that genre. I imagine we'll be frequently both pretty often  

[N-o-l-a 7,167]

45 minutes ago, Paul & Mallory said:

Oh wow - 5 hours is a lot lol I live about an hour away from ours in Charlotte (I live in South Carolina but close to the NC border). Still a drive, but at least doable for an afternoon. Paul has already asked we go there the weekend after he gets here, lol. You can take the man out of Sweden...

 

Having anything Scandinavian nearby is helpful! Ikea is really the only place we have; no other stores or restaurants with anything Scandinavian, so it's good we're close to ours. He's also Filipino, and we found an Asian market in Charlotte that he loves, for that genre. I imagine we'll be frequently both pretty often  

 

An hour is about the distance everything is away - doctors, work, where we do the bulk of our grocery shopping, etc.  It is an easy drive when the whether is good and often times I'll only pass a handful of other cars or as is the case now, tractors and ag planes.  

 

I wish they'd open one in Fargo because that would only be 2 hours away, but alas no such luck.  I used to be a big fan, we'd eat there once a week in Denmark and then America before we moved.  I was definitely spoiled in Denmark because it was only a couple of miles away and on our bus line.  I also made my husband go with me to the mothership in Älmhult.  But, I guess as I get older there is less reason to go - we have all the furniture we need and only buy to upgrade, so there is just tchotchkes.  It would be nice to have a bigger place for the kids to run around in winter and get a cheap meal. 

 

The food here is a little more Norwegian oriented - within a few blocks of my house there are several places that sell lefse or the equipment to make lefse and krumkake, etc.

Edited May 10, 2018 by N-o-l-a

[mspmn 9]

On 2018-05-09 at 4:15 AM, LizM said:

Hej alla. Just checking in here to say thanks for all the help I've received from the this forum so far. I picked up my visa yesterday and I'm leaving Sweden for the US on the 24th of May. It all feels so surreal.

 

Until then, please let me know what I need to bring from Sweden that I can't easily get in the US (good chocolate is already on my list) . Cheers & good day to you all!

 

Congrats!!

 

For me the product I was going to miss the most was Filmjölk. Fortunately we found that there is a company, Siggi’s Dairy, that makes what they call Swedish style filmjölk - non-fat drinkable yoghurt here in the U.S. I would say that it is pretty similar to the mellanfil back home and come in plain, raspberry, blueberry and vanilla. The flavored ones are a bit too sweet but the plain one do the trick for me. They carry them at Whole Foods, at least here in the Minneapolis area and they used to have them at Target but that didn’t last long.