Singapore K1 filers (2017-18)

[tiggermuffin 41]

Hey all!

 

I just received my NOA2 for K1 VISA and would like to start preparing documents. I have a question regarding which country to obtain my police certificate if anyone has similar experiences, here is my background:

- Born and lived in Indonesia until before 10

- Moved to Singapore to study from 10 - High School

- Went to the US for University and came back to Singapore

 

I basically lived in Indonesia before I was 16, and spent about a 3-4 years in the US, do I need to obtain police certificate for all 3 countries or only Singapore?

 

Thanks!

[Duane & Haney 95]

18 hours ago, Duane & Haney said:

Hi CCCCCF,

 

No, the question I asked (did you read it?) is not covered in this thread, the reviews or your extensive post (thank you!), or I would not have asked it.

 

On the other hand, I probably wasn't clear about what I wanted, so I apologize for that!

 

Here's the issue. I went to the website in packet 4 to register for Aramex ( https://cgifederal.secure.force.com/ ) and received this error, picture attached.

 

Did you (or anyone) receive this error and know the cause?

 

In the worst case Haney can clarify this during the interview in two weeks. We just don't want any delays with the passport...I know you can relate.

 

Thanks again @CCCCCF @everyone!

 

Haney & Duane

In case anyone wonders what the solution is, I found it!

 

In my case, it was not necessary to create a "new user" as indicated on the packet 4 instructions. In fact, my user ID already existed, so I had to select "forgot your password" in order to finally gain access.

 

In truth, I do not know why the account already existed. Haney applied for and received a US visa in the past, although the account I finally got access to was already filled out with the information that we used to submit the DS-160. I assume that the account was created then?

 

Either way, a few tips: I had to stumble around a bit to find "IV register address" (select "New Application / Schedule Appointment" first), but was able to do it. The only other hitch was the "priority date" that was required to finally get to the page and specify the pickup location. That priority date turns out the be the NOA1 on your printed copy, in our case 1/22/2018. Also the MRV confirmation number turned out to be the "CGI reference number" on the receipt from SingPost.

 

So not very impressed with the "ease of use" of my government's website, but it is what it is. I was able to download the confirmation page as a .pdf so Haney can take it to the interview in two weeks, so we appear to be all set. 🙂

 

Thanks to @CCCCCF for the helpful and patient advice, I will be looking into the (www.ustraveldocs.com/sg/) website you mentioned for tracking the passport, but otherwise all is good again!

 

Haney & Duane

[Duane & Haney 95]

18 minutes ago, tiggermuffin said:

Hey all!

 

I just received my NOA2 for K1 VISA and would like to start preparing documents. I have a question regarding which country to obtain my police certificate if anyone has similar experiences, here is my background:

- Born and lived in Indonesia until before 10

- Moved to Singapore to study from 10 - High School

- Went to the US for University and came back to Singapore

 

I basically lived in Indonesia before I was 16, and spent about a 3-4 years in the US, do I need to obtain police certificate for all 3 countries or only Singapore?

 

Thanks!

I uploaded the instructions from packet 3, which you will receive after your petition passes through the NVC and finally reaches the embassy (in about 6-8 weeks).

 

These are the instructions you will receive, so it looks like you are only required to provide police certificates for countries you have lived upon reaching the age of 16 and for 12 months or more. I remember reading somewhere that you did not need a police certificate from the USA, but you should verify that information.

 

One note, make sure your police certificates are newer than 6 months by the time of your interview. Based on statistical analyses I've done on other Singapore girls, you should be at the most 4 months away from your interview since you just received NOA2, so you're probably OK. 🙂

 

Hope that helped!

Haney & Duane

 

 

[CCCCCF 174]

38 minutes ago, tiggermuffin said:

Hey all!

 

I just received my NOA2 for K1 VISA and would like to start preparing documents. I have a question regarding which country to obtain my police certificate if anyone has similar experiences, here is my background:

- Born and lived in Indonesia until before 10

- Moved to Singapore to study from 10 - High School

- Went to the US for University and came back to Singapore

 

I basically lived in Indonesia before I was 16, and spent about a 3-4 years in the US, do I need to obtain police certificate for all 3 countries or only Singapore?

 

Thanks!

You will need to provide Indonesia and Singapore’s police certificate.

As Indonesia is the country of your citizenship and SG is where you have lived for more than 6 months over 16.

U.S police certificate is not needed. I did Masters and lived in US for a while too, but it is not required. USCIS and embassy will perform the background check and if there’s any record, it will show up. You don’t need to get the police certificate for them. 

 

[CCCCCF 174]

Just now, CCCCCF said:

You will need to provide Indonesia and Singapore’s police certificate.

As Indonesia is the country of your citizenship and SG is where you have lived for more than 6 months over 16.

U.S police certificate is not needed. I did Masters and lived in US for a while too, but it is not required. USCIS and embassy will perform the background check and if there’s any record, it will show up. You don’t need to get the police certificate for them. 

 

Or if you are now SG citizenship, then I am not too sure if Indonesia police certificate is required or not. But if you are SG PR or Indonesia citizenship, then yes, Indonesia police certificate is still needed.

[tiggermuffin 41]

20 minutes ago, Duane & Haney said:

I uploaded the instructions from packet 3, which you will receive after your petition passes through the NVC and finally reaches the embassy (in about 6-8 weeks).

 

These are the instructions you will receive, so it looks like you are only required to provide police certificates for countries you have lived upon reaching the age of 16 and for 12 months or more. I remember reading somewhere that you did not need a police certificate from the USA, but you should verify that information.

 

One note, make sure your police certificates are newer than 6 months by the time of your interview. Based on statistical analyses I've done on other Singapore girls, you should be at the most 4 months away from your interview since you just received NOA2, so you're probably OK. 🙂

 

Hope that helped!

Haney & Duane

 

 

Thanks for this! I guess I do not need police certificate for both Indonesia and US!

[CCCCCF 174]

28 minutes ago, Duane & Haney said:

In case anyone wonders what the solution is, I found it!

 

In my case, it was not necessary to create a "new user" as indicated on the packet 4 instructions. In fact, my user ID already existed, so I had to select "forgot your password" in order to finally gain access.

 

In truth, I do not know why the account already existed. Haney applied for and received a US visa in the past, although the account I finally got access to was already filled out with the information that we used to submit the DS-160. I assume that the account was created then?

 

Either way, a few tips: I had to stumble around a bit to find "IV register address" (select "New Application / Schedule Appointment" first), but was able to do it. The only other hitch was the "priority date" that was required to finally get to the page and specify the pickup location. That priority date turns out the be the NOA1 on your printed copy, in our case 1/22/2018. Also the MRV confirmation number turned out to be the "CGI reference number" on the receipt from SingPost.

 

So not very impressed with the "ease of use" of my government's website, but it is what it is. I was able to download the confirmation page as a .pdf so Haney can take it to the interview in two weeks, so we appear to be all set. 🙂

 

Thanks to @CCCCCF for the helpful and patient advice, I will be looking into the (www.ustraveldocs.com/sg/) website you mentioned for tracking the passport, but otherwise all is good again!

 

Haney & Duane

If Haney has ANY type of US visa in the past, she should already have this account. As this is the account that’s needed for interview schedule.

Only one account is allowed to one person since. It’s based on passport ID.

If Haney has changed passport or something, then the 2nd account could probably be created too. 

[tiggermuffin 41]

4 minutes ago, CCCCCF said:

Or if you are now SG citizenship, then I am not too sure if Indonesia police certificate is required or not. But if you are SG PR or Indonesia citizenship, then yes, Indonesia police certificate is still needed.

Thank you so much for your information! I don't think I need the police certificate from Indonesia since I moved to Singapore when I was really young 

 

 

[AL-MJD 144]

You guys are doing great. As for the passport issue, I did recieve the same instructions and you must follow it to register for Aramex delivery or for passport self-pick-up. That is all there is to that instruction.

 

All my love and all the best for all interviews, days past or near future.

[ediali09 69]

I was at the embassy 20 minutes prior to my appointment. Everything went well, although Fullerton hasn't sent them my medical report so I'll have to wait for that... 😐 Here's my review (I also posted this on the consulate page here on VJ). Hope this will help other filers: 

- Got there 20 minutes prior to appointment (not necessary but I wanted to get there with time to spare)
- Handed over my smartphone and earphones to the guard before passing through the detector 
- A lady told me to wait for my name to be called at counter 7
- I didn't find a clock anywhere in the waiting room so I am quite thankful I wore a watch. That helped me keep track of time.
- There's a instant photo booth in the waiting room but it's 10 dollars for 2 photos. Just FYI! Like most people, I got my photos done somewhere else for much cheaper. 
- They called my name around 10 minutes past my appointment time. Went to counter 7. 
- The officer at counter 7 asked for my passport, birth certificate, certificate of clearance, I-134, passport photos, etc. He also asked if I/my fiancé was ever married and/or had kids. He was quite cheery, even chatted with me about the area I'm living in ("Oh, you're living near XXX! I have a friend who used to live there..."). Gave me this IMBRA/domestic violence booklet and told me that I should read it while I am waiting for the CO to call on me.
- Waited for another 10-15 minutes. CO called on me at counter 8
- Swore that I am telling the truth. Quick fingerprinting. 
- A few questions on how we met, when we met, when was the next time we met, when did we realise the relationship was getting serious, when he proposed/if it's a mutual decision, what he does for a living, what his dad does for a living (his dad is our co-sponsor), what I do for a living, how we keep in touch when we're not together, and what our wedding plans are. He was not stern, but not super friendly. Just professional.
- He also asked me to explain IN MY OWN WORDS what the booklet said. Essentially that I have legal support if I am abused and we have to get married within 90 days of my arrival in the US. 
- He told me that everything looks good! BUT ---
- He said that Fullerton has not sent my medical report and that I will have to wait till it gets in (probably in the next week or 2). This was disappointing but I kinda knew that already because of prior reviews here of Fullerton. Funnily, he sounded quite exasperated about Fullerton and the medical report not being mailed in so I think he must know about this?). I asked if there's anything I can do to speed that up, and he said no, that calling them wouldn't help either - just gotta wait till it gets mailed. He kept my passport since I have no travel plans. 
- That's it! Out of the embassy around 50 minutes from my appointment. 
- P.S. He didn't ask for evidence of ongoing relationship/letter of intent etc even though I had them ready with me. 

Now, more waiting
 

Edited November 7, 2018 by toocold
typo

[tiggermuffin 41]

Hello all!

Just wondering, are we able to get the Certificate of Clearance only with the NOA2 approval form? Or must I wait for NVC letter / Package 3 to apply?

[CCCCCF 174]

4 hours ago, tiggermuffin said:

Hello all!

Just wondering, are we able to get the Certificate of Clearance only with the NOA2 approval form? Or must I wait for NVC letter / Package 3 to apply?

You have to wait for Packet 3. There’s a letter from embassy to upload for Coc application. But you can try your luck.

[ediali09 69]

Just got my passport back! Visa approved and issued 🙂

 

All the best to everyone waiting, and onwards! 

[Duane & Haney 95]

4 hours ago, toocold said:

Just got my passport back! Visa approved and issued 🙂

 

All the best to everyone waiting, and onwards! 

Eight days, fantastic!

 

Good to hear that @toocold, thanks for your review and all the best to you too. 🙂

 

Haney & Duane

[Duane & Haney 95]

Here is Haney's review of her embassy visit on November 20th, 2018:

 

My appointment was at 1:30PM, but I arrived about 40 minutes early just to be safe. I ended up having to wait outside, the guard wouldn't let me in, even after I showed him my appointment letter. It was warm, but I suppose that's better than being late. There was no line, just a family waiting for a non-immigrant visa, so we waited together.

 

At 1:20PM the guard called us both to him for the usual security checks. I had my bag with the documents for the interview, and otherwise my phone and headset. The phone and headset were collected, and I was given a token for later. There was a short X-ray machine, similar to the airport. They found an electronic bank token in my bag, which they also collected for later. I had to pass through a metal detector, and that was it.

 

As instructed, I went down the hall to the left. When I arrived, the room was as many have described, with teller windows, and seats marked for immigrant visas or non-immigrant visas. There were machines to take a number, but there was a woman sitting at the entrance of the room who asked for my appointment letter, and told me to take a seat until I was called. I did not take a number. She told me to prepare all the documents that had been mentioned in the checklist in packet 3.

 

She didn't give me anything, and since I was the only one there, I suppose it was obvious who I was for when they called me up.

 

I waited for about 45 minutes until the first person called me to window 7, a middle-aged Singaporean. He asked me the following questions, and collected the listed documents:

 

1. What is your legal status in Singapore?
2. Does your fiancé have children?
3. Is he single?
4. Do you have children?
5. Are you single?

 

1. Birth Certificate (original and copy)
2. Divorce Certificate (fiancé) and translations (original and copy)
3. Police Certificate- Singapore (original copy)
4. Police Certificate- Philippines (original copy)
5. Registry of No Marriage in Singapore (original and copy)
6. CENOMAR (he said they’ve received it)
7. 2 US-sized passport photographs
8. I-134
9. tax returns

 

After I submitted all the documents, I sat down for another 10 minutes until my name was called at window 8. This was the consul and he performed my final interview. He was middle-aged and caucasian, and was very nice. I don't know if the fact that this was the Thanksgiving holiday week in the USA meant that the woman mentioned in other reviews was not present, or maybe explained the lack of people there, but either way I was glad he was my interviewer.

 

He asked me the following questions:

1. How did you meet?
2. When did you meet in person?
3. When was the second time you saw him?
4. When did you meet again?
5. For how long?
6. Did you meet after that?
7. How do you communicate?
8. How often?
9. How did he propose to you?
10. What was the engagement like?
11. When are you going to get married?
12. What are your wedding plans?
13. How many times did your fiancé get married?
14. What does your fiancé do for a living?
15. Explained the IMBRA leaflet

 

BTW, before the questions I also had to be fingerprinted and take an oath.

 

The interview took about 10 minutes, after which the consul returned all the original documents that he did not require (my fiancé's divorce certificate) and told me that I was approved and would receive my visa in a week.

He also gave me a form sheet in case I had not yet signed up for the Aramex delivery online, which I already had, so I didn't need it.

 

The whole process took 1 hour and 20 minutes. The consul did not ask to see any pictures or collect any evidence of communication, although my fiancé had prepared about 50 pages with boarding passes, visa stamps, vacation pictures, WhatsApp examples and Skype logs.

 

I was fortunate because I scheduled my medical exam before I received the packet 3, which meant that I had 3 weeks between the exam and the interview in the embassy to contact Fullerton to make sure the exam report was on time. This ended up being important, because it took them around 14 days to deliver it, not the 6-10 days they tell you.

 

The CENOMAR (Filipinas only) only took about 3-5 days from the moment of ordering, so was not a problem. I opened a FedEx account with my own credit card, so I did not have the issues other have spoke of trying to use their fiancé's credit card.

Otherwise, the new requirement for the Singaporean Record of No Marriage caught us by surprise, but I was able to take care of this in less than a week. In fact, the first time they provided the record based on passport number, not my name, so I had to ask for a second record search using my name (per embassy instructions) and had to pay twice.

 

I wish you all the luck in the world. As you can see, my experience was relatively painless, except for the waiting. Hope that yours is equally unproblematic!