From NOA2 to finishing NVC stage. Only some police records available

[Moes78 1]

Hi all,

 

I have a couple of questions if you don't mind and will be super happy if you could help out! I'm starting off with a general question for the NVC process and then 2 specific question regarding my wife's situation.

 

A few weeks ago the NVC received our CR1 (early April) case and I was told that it would take a few more weeks until they would send out the packages to us where we will see what to do next.

 

So, in general I would like to ask what guide I should follow for the NVC stage. As in, is this one up to date? http://www.visajourney.com/wiki/index.php?title=NVC_Process and can I follow it without getting into trouble?

 

But there are many other sources and I am a bit overwhelmed: E.g., different shortcuts, time savers etc http://www.visajourney.com/content/nvc-case-status

 

If that NVC Process link (http://www.visajourney.com/wiki/index.php?title=NVC_Process) is the proper to follow it says to call and ask them for the case number until they have it assigned/give it out. With that number I should then go ahead and file form DS-261 (also following https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/immigrate/the-immigrant-visa-process/after-petition-approved/step-1-choose-an-agent.html).

 

So, since the lady on the telephone said I shouldn't worry and wait for them to get back to me, or similar. Is that the way to go?  I also read in multiple places that I should call them like twice per week and ask for the case number (which I then use to file Ds-261 and then pay IV and AOS fees, correct?).

 

 

Again, for some conflicting statements. Here it says I should submit my complete tax return with W2s (http://www.visajourney.com/wiki/index.php/James's_Shortcuts; see federal tax returns), while other wikis said to only submit  tax transcripts (last years, or 3). Am I OK, only submitting the last years tax transcript? The ones from before are also kind of useless since I was a student without income, but now I'm good).

 

_________

As per my title, one of the main question actually is regarding my wife's police records. She is Mexican but lives in Canada at the moment. She lived in 2 Mexican states where she lived for significant time 1 year +  (this link).

 

For one of the MEX states she has a police record from the State Police (Fiscalía General del Estado); dated: August 2017. But she wasn't in Mexico since January 2016, so we believe that will be fine. 

 

But for the other state, they just stopped producing the police records letters early this year. She read in the newspaper that information can be available online for Consulates or Embassies, but it is totally unclear how to get to this point. She tried to call several times to ask since a couple of months ago, but nobody picks up the phone. So that seems to be a dead end.

 

But the link also says: "Alternate Documents: If the state police record is unavailable, visa applicants must provide a federal record called a “Carta de No Antecedentes Penales” from the Dirección General de Ejecución de Sanciones, Comisión Nacional de Seguridad”. This office doesn’t exist anymore since 2012. Now the equivalent is called “constancia de datos registrales”. 

However, to get that letter from Quebec/Canada is a huge pain involving 2 sets of fingerprints from the police in Quebec, proof of residency in Quebec, translation of these documents into Spanish, pictures, birth certificate issued less than 5 years ago, then she has to go to a far MEX consulate with that stuff, wait 3 days, and hope they are okay sending a confirmation letter back to her home address. That letter she then has to send to that Mexican institution with some more documents, and in the end a friend would have to drive 5 h to that city in order to pick up the police certificate and send it back with the post. So, all in all a totally insane process. And we wouldn't even know who to ask to go there and pick it up....

 

Now, we explained that process to the NVC lady, and she said, no worries. Just explain in your documents why you were not able to provide that police record. My question is, can we really do it this way? Provide the police record from the one state that she has (dated August 2017), explain why she can't get the other MEX police record (as per above), and also hand in the Quebecois/Canadian police record. So, basically submit 2 police record + 1 excuse. Did anybody else here go through this?

 

In fact, at this link  (this link) it also says: A police record from every state in Mex is generally not required for an IV application. But that statement stands there without context and I guess could be interpreted in several ways. Maybe it is exactly what we are looking for!? One MEX  state record is enough? 

 

Thanks for your insights!

_____

 

Last but not least.... regarding  Vaccination requirements for immigrants:

 

My wife doesn't have vaccination records, but she got plenty of vaccinations and could get titer tests to prove it. Likely she also needs some refreshers though....

 

I guess my question is how we should go about this. I think waiting until the medical exam before the interview would be bad timing and take long. How do we find out what vaccinations and documentation she can get now? And where can she do those vaccinations/what documentation from the physicians is needed? Should we already call the Montreal Embassy approved physician?

 

 

Thanks for having a look at all these questions!!

 

Cheers,

Mo

 

 

[ChrisJay11 31]

8 minutes ago, Mo Schmid said:

Hi all,

 

I have a couple of questions if you don't mind and will be super happy if you could help out! I'm starting off with a general question for the NVC process and then 2 specific question regarding my wife's situation.

 

A few weeks ago the NVC received our CR1 (early April) case and I was told that it would take a few more weeks until they would send out the packages to us where we will see what to do next.

 

So, in general I would like to ask what guide I should follow for the NVC stage. As in, is this one up to date? http://www.visajourney.com/wiki/index.php?title=NVC_Process and can I follow it without getting into trouble?

 

But there are many other sources and I am a bit overwhelmed: E.g., different shortcuts, time savers etc http://www.visajourney.com/content/nvc-case-status

 

If that NVC Process link (http://www.visajourney.com/wiki/index.php?title=NVC_Process) is the proper to follow it says to call and ask them for the case number until they have it assigned/give it out. With that number I should then go ahead and file form DS-261 (also following https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/immigrate/the-immigrant-visa-process/after-petition-approved/step-1-choose-an-agent.html).

 

So, since the lady on the telephone said I shouldn't worry and wait for them to get back to me, or similar. Is that the way to go?  I also read in multiple places that I should call them like twice per week and ask for the case number (which I then use to file Ds-261 and then pay IV and AOS fees, correct?). 

I would follow this advice and call twice per week asking for the case number.

8 minutes ago, Mo Schmid said:

 

 

Again, for some conflicting statements. Here it says I should submit my complete tax return with W2s (http://www.visajourney.com/wiki/index.php/James's_Shortcuts; see federal tax returns), while other wikis said to only submit  tax transcripts (last years, or 3). Am I OK, only submitting the last years tax transcript? The ones from before are also kind of useless since I was a student without income, but now I'm good).

You can get away with JUST the tax transcript per instructions for the I-864 AOS. Tax returns plus W2's is a substitute if you're not able to get complete tax returns. You might consider six months of pay stubs to bolster your case as you've only had enough income for the past year.

8 minutes ago, Mo Schmid said:

 

_________

As per my title, one of the main question actually is regarding my wife's police records. She is Mexican but lives in Canada at the moment. She lived in 2 Mexican states where she lived for significant time 1 year +  (this link).

 

For one of the MEX states she has a police record from the State Police (Fiscalía General del Estado); dated: August 2017. But she wasn't in Mexico since January 2016, so we believe that will be fine. 

 

But for the other state, they just stopped producing the police records letters early this year. She read in the newspaper that information can be available online for Consulates or Embassies, but it is totally unclear how to get to this point. She tried to call several times to ask since a couple of months ago, but nobody picks up the phone. So that seems to be a dead end.

 

But the link also says: "Alternate Documents: If the state police record is unavailable, visa applicants must provide a federal record called a “Carta de No Antecedentes Penales” from the Dirección General de Ejecución de Sanciones, Comisión Nacional de Seguridad”. This office doesn’t exist anymore since 2012. Now the equivalent is called “constancia de datos registrales”. 

However, to get that letter from Quebec/Canada is a huge pain involving 2 sets of fingerprints from the police in Quebec, proof of residency in Quebec, translation of these documents into Spanish, pictures, birth certificate issued less than 5 years ago, then she has to go to a far MEX consulate with that stuff, wait 3 days, and hope they are okay sending a confirmation letter back to her home address. That letter she then has to send to that Mexican institution with some more documents, and in the end a friend would have to drive 5 h to that city in order to pick up the police certificate and send it back with the post. So, all in all a totally insane process. And we wouldn't even know who to ask to go there and pick it up....

 

Now, we explained that process to the NVC lady, and she said, no worries. Just explain in your documents why you were not able to provide that police record. My question is, can we really do it this way? Provide the police record from the one state that she has (dated August 2017), explain why she can't get the other MEX police record (as per above), and also hand in the Quebecois/Canadian police record. So, basically submit 2 police record + 1 excuse. Did anybody else here go through this?

 

In fact, at this link  (this link) it also says: A police record from every state in Mex is generally not required for an IV application. But that statement stands there without context and I guess could be interpreted in several ways. Maybe it is exactly what we are looking for!? One MEX  state record is enough? 

This was taken from travel.state.gov, so I would follow that you don't need certificates from every state that your wife lived in. If you're really uncomfortable with this, you can contact the Consulate in Ciudad Juarez directly to see if they would require it. However, it sounds like you might want your wife to interview in Canada? Then, contact that consulate as it says a case by case basis. I'd bet they'd likely follow whatever practice Juarez does for its nationals however. I think the news article reflecting that those letters were discontinued in the state should probably cover you...

8 minutes ago, Mo Schmid said:

 

Thanks for your insights!

_____

 

Last but not least.... regarding  Vaccination requirements for immigrants:

 

My wife doesn't have vaccination records, but she got plenty of vaccinations and could get titer tests to prove it. Likely she also needs some refreshers though....

 

I guess my question is how we should go about this. I think waiting until the medical exam before the interview would be bad timing and take long. How do we find out what vaccinations and documentation she can get now? And where can she do those vaccinations/what documentation from the physicians is needed? Should we already call the Montreal Embassy approved physician?

I sponsored my Mexican stepmother. She went to her local public hospital to get the titer exams that she needed. She was also able to get vaccinated for the things that she knew she wasn't vaccinated for. She later took all of these documents to the panel physician (in Juarez in her case) and he was able to fill the documents accordingly. It also saved her money at the panel physician as they tend to charge a lot for the vaccinations they administer.

[Moes78 1]

Thanks ChrisJay11, I'd be very happy if all is that easy. Would be great to get some more opinions. Cheers

[pushbrk 12,883]

Sounds like you have the official information you need.  It was found here, right?

 

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/Visa-Reciprocity-and-Civil-Documents-by-Country/Mexico.html

[Moes78 1]

I guess you mean regarding the police certificates? Yes, I looked at that site. But the instructions are confusing, if not even contradictory:

 

For instance it says:

1) If the state police record is unavailable, visa applicants must provide a federal record called a “Carta de No Antecedentes Penales” from the Dirección General de Ejecución de Sanciones, Comisión Nacional de Seguridad. To make the request, applicants must provide the following documentation:

 

But also:

2) A police certificate from every state in Mexico is generally not required for an IV application. A single police certificate is sufficient.

 

and:

3) However, consular officers may request a state police certificate where an individual was resident for more than six (months) on a case by cases basis.

_______

So, in our case my wife lived in 2 Mexican states for substantial periods. 

 

For 1 state we have the police certificate, so 2) seems fulfilled.

 

For the other state the police certificates are not produced anymore, and the federal thing is now a major pain, especially since she does not live in Mexico. Still 1) might apply just according to the wording. Police record not available -> need federal.

 

And then 3) basically says that the consulate can request whatever they want.

 

Quite confusing I find... So, I think the best is to call them ASAP.

 

Cheers,

Mo