Next step after approval, before interview

[danie82 4]

So first I apologize as I am sure this could be a redundant question...  After we receive the approval letter and things get sent to the consulate, what are the next steps?  I was searching on here for a possible thread/sticky with useful information in regards to this but have not seen one.  Is there a specific page on USCIS webpage that will offer useful information?  Is there something that shows what documents my fiancee will need to bring or print/fill out, or is this something that will arrive with his letter?  Also, is there any things that I should start preparing and sending to him that he should bring on the interview?  Last, he will have his interview in Canada, Ottawa or Montreal I believe, any tips on interview questions?  Thanks so much!   And if there is a specific thread to this can someone point me in the right direction to where that is.

[Rickey&Aiza 21]

I'd like a link to that thread as well. 

[KULtoATL 1,551]

There's no one thread to cover this question. For this stage, it is very embassy specific. @danie82 your fiance will be interviewing in Montreal as Ottawa does not process K-1 visas  You can take a peek at this link as it provides the MTL Packet 3: https://ca.usembassy.gov/visas/fiancee/. This is just a rough idea as I am not sure if the embassy has updated it to a new Packet 3 or not.

 

Based on what I read, your fiance need to gather the documents listed and once he has them all, he'll need to return the Packet 3 checklist to the embassy and in return they will send him the Packet 4 with instructions for medical and interview appointment scheduling. 

 

@Peot Are you able to assist since this is MTL specific? @geowrian Help with the MNL embassy for the other poster here?

 

@danie82 as the US petitioner, you'll need to prepare the I-134 + supporting documents, new letter of intent dated closer to the interview date, divorce decree if any etc. For your part, you can refer to http://www.visajourney.com/content/k1guide. Scroll down and read "What to send to your fiance once the I-129F is approved (Receive NOA2)".

[geowrian 22,338]

Once the case is at the embassy or consulate, there is no single process....each embassy/consulate has their own procedure.

 

The K-1 guide includes a few steps for the petitioner to take for documents they will need to provide to the beneficiary: http://www.visajourney.com/content/k1guide

 

A brief overview from DOS is here: https://travel.state.gov/content/visas/en/immigrate/family/fiance-k-1.html. The beneficiary will need to complete a DS-160, pay the MRV fee, complete a medical, obtain necessary police certificates, schedule the interview, etc. The exact circumstances of when these are needed differ from embassy to embassy. Some embassies schedule the interview for you, while others let you do it yourself (after paying the MRV fee). Some embassies require you to submit a packet 3 before an interview is scheduled. Some don't.

 

For Canada, I thought only Montreal handled K-1 cases now...? I'm pretty sure that's the case...Ottawa isn't listed on the DOS website for K-1.

Confirmed...https://ca.usembassy.gov/visas/fiancee/

" Effective April 1, 2016, U.S. Consulate General Vancouver is no longer processing new fiancé(e) (K) visa applications. U.S. Consulate General Montreal will be the interview location for all fiancé(e) visas in Canada. This change applies to all fiancé(e) visa petitions received at the National Visa Center after March 31, 2016. U.S. Consulate General Vancouver will continue to process fiancé(e) visa applications and conduct interviews for petitions they received prior to that date."

 

 

For USEM, once you have the NVC case number, you can start filling out everything else. No packet 3/4 is needed first. The medical at SLEC is walk-in and first come, first served (you can register online to speed up some paperwork, though). You can schedule the interview yourself online. You also need to get the CFO sticker in your passport before you will be allowed to leave from the Philippines. Without repeating what's been said many times, here's a good website guide:

http://www.visaconnection-philippines.com/index.html

[Peot 161]

Where in Canada is he? Start planning on which panel doctor you'll be visiting now and get an idea of the fees. Western Canada you really have only one close option. Eastern Canada you have a few more. Make sure you get all of your necessary booster shots and tdap shot specifically for vaccinations BEFORE going to the medical to save $$. It's otherwise around $45 a shot. You cannot book your medical until you are given permission to (Packet 4).

 

Police check / record check can take a great deal of time. Do this BEFORE you get the Packet 3 (shortly after NOA2 is good). My criminal check, for example, took 7 weeks to complete. I have heard that going to a rural RCMP office yields much faster results for these checks though! Ask around before committing to 4+ weeks for delivery!

 

Your fiance will be doing their interview in Montreal. I highly recommend AirBnB for travel as it's very affordable, there are plenty of options around the consulate, and it's very difficult to find a flight into Montreal that can accommodate the early appointment times. You'll definitely be staying at least one night ahead of the interview to comfortably make it on time.

 

I will attach a screenshot of the Packet 4 email checklist. This shows you everything you need to bring to the interview at MTL (minus the DS-160 confirmation page that you also have to bring as well as relationship supporting pictures, documents, etc)

 

 

 

Edited August 22, 2017 by Peot

[Peot 161]

Feel free to check my timeline (to the left under my avatar) for estimated times for getting from one stage to the next.

 

The process at Montreal is that after you get NOA2, you get an email from the NVC telling you to fill out the DS-160 form and to be patient.

• Shortly after that you receive Packet 3 in the mail. Both petitioner and beneficiary should get a copy of Packet 3.
• On Packet 3 is asks you to start gathering evidence from the list above, and once you have gathered it, you must sign the checklist and email it back to them as well as a screenshot of the completed DS-160 confirmation page and your passport bio page.
• Days after that, you will get Packet 4 which gives you the same checklist, and suggests you book your interview and to pay your MRV fee. You cannot book your interview without paying the fee.
• Once you have paid, they will send you another email with payment confirmation. You can then choose your interview date. Do this right away as times and dates are very limited! 
• They will send you yet another confirmation page, and this one is important. Print this page out! You need it for the medical!
• You can then book the medical at your chosen physician. Be sure to bring vaccination records, any medical documents for known issues (if you have any), and a whopping 5 US-passport photos as well as your passport, and the printed appointment confirmation page you printed above.
• At the interview, follow the list above but also provide relationship details like photos, boarding passes, and any evidence you submitted with the original I-129F if you can. The more the better! Also bring the DS-160 confirmation page.
• Then it's the waiting game  to get the visa.

[danie82 4]

7 hours ago, Peot said:

Where in Canada is he? Start planning on which panel doctor you'll be visiting now and get an idea of the fees. Western Canada you really have only one close option. Eastern Canada you have a few more. Make sure you get all of your necessary booster shots and tdap shot specifically for vaccinations BEFORE going to the medical to save $$. It's otherwise around $45 a shot. You cannot book your medical until you are given permission to (Packet 4).

 

Police check / record check can take a great deal of time. Do this BEFORE you get the Packet 3 (shortly after NOA2 is good). My criminal check, for example, took 7 weeks to complete. I have heard that going to a rural RCMP office yields much faster results for these checks though! Ask around before committing to 4+ weeks for delivery!

 

Your fiance will be doing their interview in Montreal. I highly recommend AirBnB for travel as it's very affordable, there are plenty of options around the consulate, and it's very difficult to find a flight into Montreal that can accommodate the early appointment times. You'll definitely be staying at least one night ahead of the interview to comfortably make it on time.

 

I will attach a screenshot of the Packet 4 email checklist. This shows you everything you need to bring to the interview at MTL (minus the DS-160 confirmation page that you also have to bring as well as relationship supporting pictures, documents, etc)

 

 

 

Thanks everyone!  He currently lives in Ottawa.  So about a two hour drive to Montreal I believe.  This info really helps.  We are working on looking into everything we will need.  Is there a specific website to get that police cert. thing?  Thanks again!

[Helen Quail 28]

I hear that the exact process is pretty embassy specific. I will interview in London. Can anyone advise for London Embassy?

 

Also on how I can use this time ( NOA2 due in a few weeks) to gather info. I have the guide for my partner in USA but what should I be gathering here now?  

 

Thank you all

 

Helen

[Peot 161]

On 8/22/2017 at 8:40 AM, Helen Quail said:

I hear that the exact process is pretty embassy specific. I will interview in London. Can anyone advise for London Embassy?

 

Also on how I can use this time ( NOA2 due in a few weeks) to gather info. I have the guide for my partner in USA but what should I be gathering here now?  

 

Thank you all

 

Helen

Can't speak to London, but you should be getting any personal documents you will need ready at this time such as your police record check, lots of passport photos for medical + interview, etc..

 

This may not be updated, but it's the newest one I could find with a simple search pertaining to your embassy:

https://uk.usembassy.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/16/2015/11/iv_and_k_interview_checklist2014.pdf

[Peot 161]

On 8/22/2017 at 5:20 AM, danie82 said:

 Is there a specific website to get that police cert. thing?  Thanks again!

Your fiance must physically go down to the local police station in Ottawa, or to a rural RCMP station. Fiance MUST get the police record check in-person as they do not do online orders for immigration purposes (for some reason).

[danie82 4]

 Thanks!  Is there a rough timeline of how long things will take since I received our approval letter?  

[Peot 161]

1 hour ago, danie82 said:

 Thanks!  Is there a rough timeline of how long things will take since I received our approval letter?  

Again, feel free to check out my timeline under my avatar for a rough estimate:

http://www.visajourney.com/timeline/profile.php?id=261489

 

Note that I was able to choose an earlier interview date. 

My times do not reflect what your times will be necessarily. Your notice of action (approval) is NOA2 on that timeline list.

It took one full month for it to go from NVC to consulate, and I have heard that it is rather high for US consulate in Canada.

 

I highly recommend you start filling in your own timeline here as well to keep track of this for yourself and other people who might be interested in how long it has taken others in the same situation

 

Edited August 25, 2017 by Peot
typo

[Helen Quail 28]

Thanks Peot.

I have that list for London now. Starting police check processes etc. now.

Many thanks 

[danie82 4]

First, I would like to say thanks to everyone for contributing to the answers on here!  They have helped quite a bit!  I have a few more questions if anyone who has done this remembers...

 

1) Stupid question probably, but I know they are particular.  lol  If my fiancee's civil document is in both French and then English, does he still need to have it translated, or only if the document is completely in French?  

2) His birth certificate is mostly English except for the month that says "Juin", the french version.  Would that count or should he have it translated?

3) It says online as the last step to "Pay the visa application processing fee."  However, I have yet to find this fee in my searches.  Does anyone remember how much it was roughly?

4) DS160 form:  Do I need to fill one out as well?  Or just my fiancee in Canada?

5) Signed Affidavit of Support (I-134) with all supporting financial documents:  This would be me filling this out for my Fiancee correct?  And then he will bring the copy I mail to him to the interview?

 

Thanks a bunch everyone

[geowrian 22,338]

1 minute ago, danie82 said:

1) Stupid question probably, but I know they are particular.  lol  If my fiancee's civil document is in both French and then English, does he still need to have it translated, or only if the document is completely in French?  

2) His birth certificate is mostly English except for the month that says "Juin", the french version.  Would that count or should he have it translated?

3) It says online as the last step to "Pay the visa application processing fee."  However, I have yet to find this fee in my searches.  Does anyone remember how much it was roughly?

4) DS160 form:  Do I need to fill one out as well?  Or just my fiancee in Canada?

5) Signed Affidavit of Support (I-134) with all supporting financial documents:  This would be me filling this out for my Fiancee correct?  And then he will bring the copy I mail to him to the interview?

1. As long as there's English for everything on it, that's fine.
2. I'll defer to others, but the general rule is that everything must be in English or translated to English.
3. $265 MRV fee (aka the visa application fee).
4. No, the DS-160 is the actual non-immigrant visa application. You're not applying for a US visa, only your fiancee is.
5. The USC petitioner will fill out the I-134, sign it, and send it (plus supporting documentation) to the beneficiary. A wet signature may be required, so a copy won't cut it. The beneficiary will present the I-134 at the interview.