Dear All,
My husband and I have just returned from Argentine after a great CP experience, though pretty stressful.
We arrived at the Embassy at 7:30 am on Sept. 5. The guard at the entrance had no clue about our appointment. The guard at the window for US citizens services told us to return at 8:20am. So we did.
We entered the Consular Section and were given a number. After a 15 min. wait we were called, and a lady with Argentine accent asked for the documents. We gave them everything in the order instructed in the 2nd NL.
1) Current and old passports with copies of the 1st and 2nd pages of the current ones.
2) 3 passport pictures.
3) Originals DS-230 forms. We had submitted DS-230 forms after the 1st NL, and had to fill them out again for the interview. The current address was in Argentina although we are studying in the US.
4) Birth certificates: originals (translated and with the stamp of the Hague Convention, obtained at the Ministerio de Rel. Exteriores) along with certified copies by a notary public and certified by the School of Notary Publics.
5) Marriage certificate: original (translated and with the stamp of the Hague Convention, obtained at the Ministerio de Rel. Exteriores) along with certified copies by a notary public. The lady requested an additional certified copy for the beneficiary. We did not have one. We had another original but she said it was not necessary, so she said the original and one certified copy was just fine.
6) Police certificate: original. Make sure you have enough time to get this certificate.
7) Medical exam: at the time of the interview, submit the sealed envelope you receive from the panel physician. Make sure you take your lab results (blood test and x-rays), your vaccination history to the appointment with the doctor along with your current passport, Argentine DNI, passport pictures (one is enough), and the money to pay for the appointment ($120 argentine pesos).
8) Evidence of support: the more you submit, the better. The consular section in Buenos Aires requested we submit the I-864 because it is more complete, according to them.
9) School diplomas: We translated our high school diplomas (and got the stamp at the Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores) but ended up submitting our college diplomas from US schools.
After that, the lady asked us to go to the Cashier and pay the fees: US$1,510.00 for two people.
Then, the most stressful part began as we waited for a long hour and a half.
They called our names and entered the booth to be interviewed. The consular officer was very polite, asked us to begin the fingerprinting. After that, she told us she was amazed by the way we had presented all the documentation. The interview only took 10 minutes.
Three days later we had our passports and two big brown sealed envelopes (only to be open by immigration officers) back and were ready to come back to the States.
Remember to take your x-rays with you at all times. Do NOT check them with the rest of the luggage but take them as carry-ons.
Our POE was Houston. It went very smoothly. We went through the US citizens lane and handed in all documentation to the immigration officer. She scanned our passports and escorted us to a waiting room were another officer took care of the paperwork, the fingerprinting and the final stamping of our passports.
We are now US permanent residents!
I want to thank you all for all the wonderful help you provide.
I hope my experience can help other DV winners.
Lola76
My husband and I have just returned from Argentine after a great CP experience, though pretty stressful.
We arrived at the Embassy at 7:30 am on Sept. 5. The guard at the entrance had no clue about our appointment. The guard at the window for US citizens services told us to return at 8:20am. So we did.
We entered the Consular Section and were given a number. After a 15 min. wait we were called, and a lady with Argentine accent asked for the documents. We gave them everything in the order instructed in the 2nd NL.
1) Current and old passports with copies of the 1st and 2nd pages of the current ones.
2) 3 passport pictures.
3) Originals DS-230 forms. We had submitted DS-230 forms after the 1st NL, and had to fill them out again for the interview. The current address was in Argentina although we are studying in the US.
4) Birth certificates: originals (translated and with the stamp of the Hague Convention, obtained at the Ministerio de Rel. Exteriores) along with certified copies by a notary public and certified by the School of Notary Publics.
5) Marriage certificate: original (translated and with the stamp of the Hague Convention, obtained at the Ministerio de Rel. Exteriores) along with certified copies by a notary public. The lady requested an additional certified copy for the beneficiary. We did not have one. We had another original but she said it was not necessary, so she said the original and one certified copy was just fine.
6) Police certificate: original. Make sure you have enough time to get this certificate.
7) Medical exam: at the time of the interview, submit the sealed envelope you receive from the panel physician. Make sure you take your lab results (blood test and x-rays), your vaccination history to the appointment with the doctor along with your current passport, Argentine DNI, passport pictures (one is enough), and the money to pay for the appointment ($120 argentine pesos).
8) Evidence of support: the more you submit, the better. The consular section in Buenos Aires requested we submit the I-864 because it is more complete, according to them.
9) School diplomas: We translated our high school diplomas (and got the stamp at the Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores) but ended up submitting our college diplomas from US schools.
After that, the lady asked us to go to the Cashier and pay the fees: US$1,510.00 for two people.
Then, the most stressful part began as we waited for a long hour and a half.
They called our names and entered the booth to be interviewed. The consular officer was very polite, asked us to begin the fingerprinting. After that, she told us she was amazed by the way we had presented all the documentation. The interview only took 10 minutes.
Three days later we had our passports and two big brown sealed envelopes (only to be open by immigration officers) back and were ready to come back to the States.
Remember to take your x-rays with you at all times. Do NOT check them with the rest of the luggage but take them as carry-ons.
Our POE was Houston. It went very smoothly. We went through the US citizens lane and handed in all documentation to the immigration officer. She scanned our passports and escorted us to a waiting room were another officer took care of the paperwork, the fingerprinting and the final stamping of our passports.
We are now US permanent residents!
I want to thank you all for all the wonderful help you provide.
I hope my experience can help other DV winners.
Lola76
Last edited by a moderator: