2017 Post NOA2 for Cuba K1 - getting ready for interview

[eruiz3 24]

I just accepted a new position at the university I work for. I don't start until Sept. 11 because of my upcoming trip, should I include my offer letter for my affidavit? I will be making more money. 

Edited August 10, 2017 by eruiz3

[058rocale 74]

1 minute ago, eruiz3 said:

I just accepted a new position at the university I work for. I don't start until Sept. 11 because of my upcoming trip, should I include my offer letter for my affidavit? I will be making more money. 

Congratulations on your new position! I would include it, the more the better  

[TatiyPablo 32]

Nice! definitely include your offer letter. I was also hired for a new position right before my interview and included my offer letter and a letter from HR, plus my old pay stubs from May-June. One of the questions I asked was whether or not I'm working. 

 

Good luck 🤗

[pukka 11]

Hello all. New to this thread. I am really sorry if I ask some question that has been answered but as you probably are all aware this whole process is a confusing MESS! I just received NOA 2 hard copy yesterday in the mail and the NOA 2 was issued August 4.

 

Some questions:

Can I submit the DS 160 online now, pay the fee, and book the interview? Or do I have to wait for the NVC number to be assigned (I think I can start calling today).

I registered awhile back on the site where you complete the DS 160 but in my own name. Can I keep my account and just change everything to my fiance's name/info? Can I keep my own e-mail address (this will be easier for us)?

Can I scan my fiancé's passport photo (same as for I-129F petition) and upload it to the DS 160 for him? I am afraid he is too technologically challenged to do it himself. But then he goes in and "signs" the form and clicks "submit"?

 

Thank you so much!

[058rocale 74]

39 minutes ago, pukka said:

Hello all. New to this thread. I am really sorry if I ask some question that has been answered but as you probably are all aware this whole process is a confusing MESS! I just received NOA 2 hard copy yesterday in the mail and the NOA 2 was issued August 4.

 

Some questions:

Can I submit the DS 160 online now, pay the fee, and book the interview? Or do I have to wait for the NVC number to be assigned (I think I can start calling today).

I registered awhile back on the site where you complete the DS 160 but in my own name. Can I keep my account and just change everything to my fiance's name/info? Can I keep my own e-mail address (this will be easier for us)?

Can I scan my fiancé's passport photo (same as for I-129F petition) and upload it to the DS 160 for him? I am afraid he is too technologically challenged to do it himself. But then he goes in and "signs" the form and clicks "submit"?

 

Thank you so much!

Hello Pukka! Welcome!

Congratulations on your NOA 2!! 

You can submit the DS 160 now, pay the fee and schedule an interview. That is what I did. You use the WAC# when they ask for your case number. I did not wait for the NVC number, and at the end, I was never asked for it, nor did my fiance at his medical exam.

What do you mean that you registered the DS160 on your name?  

In general, you can put your email address and his info. 

And only put your info on the contact part, if you would like. If your write your info here, to change it later is a whole process that will delay your interview date. 

 

[058rocale 74]

50 minutes ago, pukka said:

Can I scan my fiancé's passport photo (same as for I-129F petition) and upload it to the DS 160 for him? I am afraid he is too technologically challenged to do it himself. But then he goes in and "signs" the form and clicks "submit"?

And yes, you can do all the Ds-160 with his info and even up load a picture. That is what I did since I have more access to the internet. the picture I uploaded was one he had a friend take for him in front of a white wall. They are not picky about it, as long as it has the dimensions they ask for. Late on my fiance went and clicked submit and signed it. 

[pukka 11]

Thank you so much for answers.

All men in Cuba have to do military service. Did you put this when you filled out DS 160? I am worried about association with communist party.

[eruiz3 24]

2 minutes ago, pukka said:

Thank you so much for answers.

All men in Cuba have to do military service. Did you put this when you filled out DS 160? I am worried about association with communist party.

I marked no for mine because additionally, they ask for the branch, rank/position, & specialty and I didn't think it was applicable. 

[pukka 11]

1 minute ago, eruiz3 said:

I marked no for mine because additionally, they ask for the branch, rank/position, & specialty and I didn't think it was applicable. 

Thanks -- mine was able to get me the branch, rank, and speciality easily -- army, private, and infantry. Lowest of the low basically.
Did anyone else do this and mark "yes"? How does it go over? I guess if it were a deal breaker then all Cuban men would be denied US visas since it is compulsory and so most would mark yes....

[pukka 11]

4 hours ago, 058rocale said:

You can submit the DS 160 now, pay the fee and schedule an interview. That is what I did. You use the WAC# when they ask for your case number. I did not wait for the NVC number, and at the end, I was never asked for it, nor did my fiance at his medical exam.

 

Thanks for the info Funny, I called NVC to see if my petition was there yet and they said "no", so I asked if it would be possible to just schedule the appointment online using the WAC number. They said "No, that's impossible." I asked again...hmm...well maybe I will try and see...
I saw in your timeline that you did get your number later from the NVC -- when did you need it? Did you go back and edit it in the DS160?

 

Unfortunately I can't move on in the DS160 though because even though the photo meets all the requirements, it keeps saying there was an error when processing the photo. I tried everything -- new browser, deleting cookies, etc. General google search shows lot of people have had this error...sigh.

[058rocale 74]

1 hour ago, pukka said:

Thanks for the info Funny, I called NVC to see if my petition was there yet and they said "no", so I asked if it would be possible to just schedule the appointment online using the WAC number. They said "No, that's impossible." I asked again...hmm...well maybe I will try and see...
I saw in your timeline that you did get your number later from the NVC -- when did you need it? Did you go back and edit it in the DS160?

 

Unfortunately I can't move on in the DS160 though because even though the photo meets all the requirements, it keeps saying there was an error when processing the photo. I tried everything -- new browser, deleting cookies, etc. General google search shows lot of people have had this error...sigh.

Yeah, they treat that HAV# like a sacred number and at no point in my process was I or my fiance ever asked for it  And I did not go back on my Ds-160 to change it. I did this skip-the-HAV-number after I read it in a website for K1 visa centered in applications from the Philippines so I decided to give it a try. And it worked great! 

Oh wow, and how did those other people fix the photo error? Can you even upload a different picture? 

In what process is your fiance in getting all her documents and legalizing them? 

[TatiyPablo 32]

4 hours ago, pukka said:

Thanks for the info Funny, I called NVC to see if my petition was there yet and they said "no", so I asked if it would be possible to just schedule the appointment online using the WAC number. They said "No, that's impossible." I asked again...hmm...well maybe I will try and see...
I saw in your timeline that you did get your number later from the NVC -- when did you need it? Did you go back and edit it in the DS160?

 

Unfortunately I can't move on in the DS160 though because even though the photo meets all the requirements, it keeps saying there was an error when processing the photo. I tried everything -- new browser, deleting cookies, etc. General google search shows lot of people have had this error...sigh.

As @058rocale it's up to you, the NVC will always tell you to wait for the HAV # because that's protocol. The issue is, you may end up scheduling your appointment before NVC processes your petition and forwards it to the embassy. I waited and still had time to book the interview, but I it's really up to your discretion.

 

In terms of the photo, if your fiance is in Havana, there's a great photo place in Vedado that can take your fiance's pic and upload it to a USB. Then she can email it to you, or she could probably pay them to email it to you from their location if they have internet.I can get the address for you if you'd like

[eruiz3 24]

37 minutes ago, TatiyPablo said:

As @058rocale it's up to you, the NVC will always tell you to wait for the HAV # because that's protocol. The issue is, you may end up scheduling your appointment before NVC processes your petition and forwards it to the embassy. I waited and still had time to book the interview, but I it's really up to your discretion.

 

In terms of the photo, if your fiance is in Havana, there's a great photo place in Vedado that can take your fiance's pic and upload it to a USB. Then she can email it to you, or she could probably pay them to email it to you from their location if they have internet.I can get the address for you if you'd like

As for as the photo goes that's exactly what my fiancé did (in Santa Cruz del sur). He sent me the the copy of the photo he took for the interview. Worked perfectly. 

[pukka 11]

On 8/11/2017 at 8:21 PM, 058rocale said:

Yeah, they treat that HAV# like a sacred number and at no point in my process was I or my fiance ever asked for it  And I did not go back on my Ds-160 to change it. I did this skip-the-HAV-number after I read it in a website for K1 visa centered in applications from the Philippines so I decided to give it a try. And it worked great! 

Oh wow, and how did those other people fix the photo error? Can you even upload a different picture? 

In what process is your fiance in getting all her documents and legalizing them? 

Hi all, thanks so much for all this info. The photo thing worked itself out -- when I came home and tried again it worked. My fiance (guy) took his police report and single certificate out awhile back and I suspect we will have to do it again. We mistakenly thought it was going to be part of the first step (129). Never legalized them. So we are just starting again I suppose.

 

On 8/11/2017 at 10:28 PM, TatiyPablo said:

As @058rocale it's up to you, the NVC will always tell you to wait for the HAV # because that's protocol. The issue is, you may end up scheduling your appointment before NVC processes your petition and forwards it to the embassy. I waited and still had time to book the interview, but I it's really up to your discretion.

 

In terms of the photo, if your fiance is in Havana, there's a great photo place in Vedado that can take your fiance's pic and upload it to a USB. Then she can email it to you, or she could probably pay them to email it to you from their location if they have internet.I can get the address for you if you'd like

As for the photo, thanks, but it worked out! For the embassy appointment, if my petition was approved on the 4th of August, do you think it's too soon to book the embassy appointment for October 2nd? That's what the site is showing now as the soonest available. On the phone the NVC said it could take 6 weeks. Problem is, I already arrive in Cuba mid September and only have so much money...

[eruiz3 24]

Does anyone have examples of letters friends and/or family wrote for them for the interview about your relationship authenticity?