Rich, If you have got married before your GC approval, just GO FOR IT.. Dont waste any time.
Srini, Answered your questions below...
Prince of Jungle, Lemme try and answer all your questions . I still advise you go through all the other posts on this forum, since there may be
a scenario which specifically applies to you :-
1) After my GC approval, I got the I-551 stamped on the passport.
I then took a photocopy of all plages in passport, I-551,485 approval notice, Marriage certificate, birth certificate ( i didnt have a birth certificate and hence used an affidavit) and a covering letter stating that I would like to initiate the F2J process. I got all the docs notorized in the US( except marriage cert since that was with wife in India) and sent it to my wife who in turn sent it to the consulate. (Yes, notory is a 1$ a page and so I fit in like 4 passport pages on 1 page
. The consulate address is on the website. It is also required to send a copy of the Green Card (plastic card) but during my stamping the officer said that it wud take 6-12 months !!! I sent a mail to the consulate that I cannot wait so long for the plastic card and requested them to create a Case number without the card. They replied ( by email) that I send all the other docs and the consular officer wud take a decision. The consulate DID process the docs without the GC copy.
They didnt give any confirmation that they received all the documents. Only the receipt from the courier service. After a week or 2 we called them and they confirmed that they have received the documents and will start reviewing the docs and create a Case number.
Note - I did not file the I-824 to initiate the F2J process and did not submit the copy of Green card. Also when I went for stamping in the US,the officer took my original 485 approval notice, so luckily I had a xerox which I could notorize and submit.
2) The CASE number was created approximately 2 months after we submitted the docs. In these 2 months we followed up a couple of times by phone
and email, and they just said that we be patient and a CASE will soon be created. Many other ppl who had initiated the F2J process at the same
time as us had their CASE numbers assigned which caused additional anxiety, but the consulate said that every case is unique and we just wait.
After my wife received the Packet, she filled the DS -230 Part 1 and another checklist saying that we have collected all the other documents and sent it back to the consulate.
3) After sending the Packet 3 documents, the next step is to wait for the Packet 4 which is essentially the Visa appointment. It took approx 2 1/2 months after submitting the Packet 3 to get an appointment. In this time my wife collected the following documents :-
PCC from the local passport office ( this comprises a stamp on the passport and another certifcate)
Police clearance certificate from the city where my wife resided since the age of 16
My wife also applied for a name change and hence she was issued a new passport stapled to the old one. THIS IS NOT REQUIRED though...
All the forms sent in Pkt 3 and Pkt 4 have to filled in by spouse. I had to only fill in the I-134 affidavit of Support. I was in India while filling in the Affidavit of support and it states on the form that if the form is filled outside the US, it has to be notorized by a counselor officer. I sent an email to the consulate saying that I am in India and asked if I have to get the I-134 notorized and they said that the 134 is not required !!!! but when I called them they said that I come to chennai before the interivew and get it notorized ... Anyway(to play it safe) I did go to chennai a day before the interview and get it notorized. There is a seperate entrance at the Consulate in Chennai for notorization and it took me 45 mins to get it done..
My wife took the following docs for the interview
- Visa Appointment Letter
- DS230 Part 1 and 2
- Mariage certificate and supporting docs like Wedding invitation and Wedding photographs.
- PCC
- Police certificates
- Wife - Birth certificate
- Medical reports ( done a couple of days before the interview. instructions are given in the Pkt 4) Chennai - If u go in the morning ( 10-12)u can get the lab tests done and same evening doctor is available between 5-7. U can take an appointment to ensure that the doc is available. If u need an detailed info on the medical examination procedure let me know.
Affidavit of Support ( 1-134) The supporting documents for this have to be collected by me.
- Employment verification letter- Letter from my company stating date I joined, salary and permenant position. I got this letter just a couple of weeks before the interview. If you get this letter dated 3-6 months before the interview, I suggest you send your wife the latest Paystubs.
- Letter from Bank which specifies the balance in your savings account. This is typically called an "Account verification letter " by US Banks.
I also carried bank statements for the last 6-8 months . (it was easy for me since I could download them). The conselor officer did keep my most recent bank statement. You need to have statements of house, stock investments etc.. if u r planning to show that as your financial assets etc..
- 1040 for the last 3 years. You can call the IRS and they will send u copies if u dont already have them
- w2 for last 3 years. I got them from my employer
- Immigration Photographs ( 50mm x 50mm) frontal view, the side view ones are no longer valid.
4) After the interview, the officer said that my wife wud receive the passport and docs after 2-3 days but she got it the very next morning. ( amazingly fast !!!.
And so that's our story !!!! Let me know if u have any questions...
