Our first update!

[Nywoek 55]

2 hours ago, hplusj said:

So many congratulations for you!  The NVC stage is pretty arduous because you really can't see much of what's going on.

Just FYI there isn't really a way to see the backlog per se but you can see the workload for each embassy through the Department of State, using the monthly visa issuance statistics here: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/legal/visa-law0/visa-statistics/nonimmigrant-visa-statistics/monthly-nonimmigrant-visa-issuances.html

 

Stockholm apparently doesn't process many K1s, which either means they go rather slowly or they just don't have many.  December '24 saw 6 K1s processed in Stockholm, and only one in January.  But there's a little bit of data for you!

Thank you so much! That is very valuable information! I am not sure if I wanna look at it positively and think of there will be lots of appointments available, or that they never have time for K1s. 😅 I guess we’ll find out in a couple of weeks time, if they don’t send the case there is probably a backlog. 

 

Thanks for the encouragement, guys.
 

And the embassy called, the issue was that they could not certify a copy of the kids’ norwegian passports, I would have had to do that before i sent them down but my ex didn’t know that. Another issue is that you need a signed passport, and since my little one was 7 at the time she got her passport it just says «CANNOT SIGN» in that spot. In american passports the parent signs, but we don’t do that here. So we decided that I will wait for the american passports and then have the kids sign them and then send the application plus the passports to the embassy. 🙈😅 After that they’ll have social security numbers. Kind of a mess, but we figured out a way! 

[Scandi 4,244]

14 hours ago, hplusj said:

So many congratulations for you!  The NVC stage is pretty arduous because you really can't see much of what's going on.

Just FYI there isn't really a way to see the backlog per se but you can see the workload for each embassy through the Department of State, using the monthly visa issuance statistics here: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/legal/visa-law0/visa-statistics/nonimmigrant-visa-statistics/monthly-nonimmigrant-visa-issuances.html

 

Stockholm apparently doesn't process many K1s, which either means they go rather slowly or they just don't have many.  December '24 saw 6 K1s processed in Stockholm, and only one in January.  But there's a little bit of data for you!

Back in 2016 when I applied for my K-1, the embassy only had K-1 interviews on Thursdays, and only 2 applicants per Thursday. So about ~8 K-1 visa interviews a month. It wasn't difficult getting an appointment either, so I'm assuming there isn't a big interest for K-1s in Scandinavia. 

[Nywoek 55]

5 hours ago, Scandi said:

Back in 2016 when I applied for my K-1, the embassy only had K-1 interviews on Thursdays, and only 2 applicants per Thursday. So about ~8 K-1 visa interviews a month. It wasn't difficult getting an appointment either, so I'm assuming there isn't a big interest for K-1s in Scandinavia. 

Thank you! That is super valuable information. Or.. well, gives more understanding at least. 🙈

 

It makes sense anyway. Although since they are now serving 4 extra countries maybe they added more days or appointments. 😅

 

Biting my nails for the next couple of weeks. 🙈

[Nywoek 55]

Today and tomorrow are NVC mailing days! 😮

 

I am so very anxious. I really hope our case moves on so I can schedule things soon. My kids are a bit stressed not knowing if we will be able to move this summer or if they have to start the school year in late august and then leave again soon after.

 

Will be interesting to see if Stockholm is ready for us. But if they do not send it this time, maybe in 2 more weeks, and then i can celebrate with my fiance since I will be stateside for easter. 😃

[Nywoek 55]

AN ACTUAL UPDATE!

 

I was checking the website, because someone in a fb groupchat said their case moved to in transit. They were about a week ahead of us, but then a little while later my fiance sent me the k-ftp letter so we are also in transit.

 

Now I am not sure what to do. Should I start my application? People have told me it should be fine that I will be getting a new passport between now and when I am doing the interview, but isnt it better to do the application with the new passport? I wont have it until probably the middle of may though. X_X

[TBoneTX 46,676]

Wonderful progress.   

 

Start application now.  Get new passport.  Bring both passports to interview.  The consulates see this all the time.

[Nywoek 55]

Oh my what a day.. XD

 

Decided to follow your advice and get started on things TB! But I think I misunderstood so I started with the consulate login, and that was a whole mess. I ended up having to make a third account, and a new official looking email address, lol. But I am crafty, and I never give up, so I eventually got it to work.. only to get stuck at needing my DS160 number lol!

 

So.. onwards I went to that part!

 

And I remember telling my fiance that its pretty cool that I get to submit this online, since the i129f was on paper..

 

..i regret that, i take it back, please! Let me use paper! XD XD

 

It is very very buggy. And I was very very very overwhelmed. And then the website bugged out and who did not have the retrival number? MOIS! However... like I said I am crafty, because I clicked back in the browser and the application # was showing for like 0.03 seconds so I think to myself... why dont I just screen record it? And pause it on the number I need? Worth a shot!

It worked! Lmao.

 

So.. onwards and upwards. My fiance was working late from home so we were both dealing with stuff on a call.. he broke something at work he had to fix and I felt like I was breaking my brain. 🙈 I kept going insane over the buggy website. At one point they asked if I have ever visited the US.. yes? But when I had finally put in all.. I think 11 times I have gone, then it was TOO many filled in fields and I got kicked out. I mean I got kicked out a lot but that one stung a little extra. So I had to delete the two first trips.. one was from 2002 and definitely an estimate so.. its probably fine. But I managed to fit the contents of my I-94 on the form, so that is good.

 

I kept going and going and going.. and now I am at the photo, but I am in no mood to take that so maybe tomorrow! But that is probably at the end... right? XD

 

It has been a frustrating time, but it feels good that everything is moving along (fairly) nicely!

[TBoneTX 46,676]

Keep the faith.

[hplusj 308]

This thread has been an actual delight to read.  So happy for the progress, congratulations!

[Nywoek 55]

Thanks you guys, you are very sweet and supportive.

 

I finished the DS160 today. Phew! But success! Then I logged on to the consulate website, but they told me I need an email from them before moving forward. So I really hope they have the right contact info for me. XD

Also checked our NVC case number and it says ready! So I guess it reached the embassy already, that is cool. ^-^

[hplusj 308]

[TBoneTX 46,676]

7 hours ago, Nywoek said:

they told me I need an email from them before moving forward

So they responded?  That's a big hurdle that you've just overcome.  Following with interest here.

[Nywoek 55]

I got the letter today!

Also a bunch of jabs. Owie. XD

My youngest got her measels booster early, they usually get them in 6th grade here, but since there are measles outbreaks the vaccine clinic recommended I just give it to her now. She should be set for the rest of her life after this dose too. 😃

Both the kids also got the combo hep a+b, they dont technically need it for immigration purposes since they are citizens, but they need it for school.

 

I also got hep b and a booster for tetanus and all the other ones. XD

 

..but we still have to go back in a month and get another hep dose, plus another within 6 months to a year to be covered completely. So that last one we will be doing in the US. 😃

Anyway, I got the letter! Signed in to continue the scheduling/payment, but I had to stop again since they want me to list my dependants and I know I do not need visas for the kids but maybe I still need to register them?`I was planning to bring their CRBAs to Stockholm.. also my NVC number shows 3 cases and I think it is because of them so I am going to call them right now before they close for the day to hear how to proceed!

 

Either way, super excited. ^____^

[Nywoek 55]

First i got stuck on a recording with them listing all sorts of k1 info lol. Was starting to worry it was impossible to talk to an actual person and get an answer to my very specific question..

 

But then a nice guy who was probably located somewhere in asia and not Sweden picked up, and he had to confirm all my info and then could not answer me so he ended up having to email the embassy and then the embassy will email me back.. lol. So I might as well have emailed them instead of calling an international swedish number. But its fine, he thought I probably dont need to add the kids, but just wanted to make sure he was correct and I want to do this right so I am grateful for his efforts.

 

Guess I am stuck waiting for a bit longer to schedule! But things seem to be moving along nicely atleast.

[TBoneTX 46,676]

You're fighting through these weeds in fine fashion.  Continuing to follow with interest.