Getting ready to relocate

In about 31 days, I will use my Fiance Visa!!! It's a one-entry visa... and I have 6 months until it expires. After I enter the US I have 90 days to get married! Shouldn't be a problem :) I'm heading to my new hometown on October 16th and marrying the man I love on December 11th!!! These dates certainly fits the criteria!

Before I leave i've been working on a list of things I will need once i'm over there, especially due to the future paperwork i'll have to deal with:

• Transcripts
• Passport size photos
• Birth certificates
• Police Record
• High School/Assoc/Bact Degrees
• Pictures (evidence still and personal)
• Reference letters
• Driver's License
• Bank Statements
• Payroll slips
• Medical Records
• Copies of our k1 visa filings

I'm worried about the stuff i'm taking. I hope the airline will transfer my bags to my connecting flight. I don't see why they wouldn't.... I have a feeling i'll be taking a lot of stuff!! Never know if or when i'll need some of them, but I can't really help wanting to take EVERYTHING I own. Mom will probably intervene when I get up to 4 bags! Lol.

The embassy gave me a packet i'm supposed to present to the immigration/customs officer when I land. I gave myself a 3-hour window between my connecting flights since I have no idea how long they'll have me under 'inspection'.

Trust me, I'll be happy to oblige because at the end of that day, I'll finally be in my fiance's arms <3

Visa Interview Recap

This time last week I was freaking out because I didn't know what to expect in the interview. I was pretty much hoping and praying that everything we provided mets their requirements.

My interview was set for 1:30pm. I went a lil early to go through security of course and I didn't know how big of a crowd would be there. When I got in there were 3 applicants ahead of me. What's interesting is that one lady's was their cuz her husband was filing for her n their kids and another young woman was their to interview for her fiance visa! So this process isn't very uncommon.

One of the worst part of the interview process was the wait... I took about 30 mins to be called up to the window to go over my paperwork. The lady checking my stuff made a strange comment tho. She said since I already had a visitors visa, if it was her, she would have been in the US and married already without going thru this process. I thought it ironic, considering she works for the embassy! I had everything they asked for... so then it was back to waiting.

I did get to see the other girl in 'action' for a lil bit. When they asked her for evidence of the relationship, she pulled out a picture frame and showed the Visa Assistant. She even wanted to slide her engagement ring under to the window!!! Wow... lol. I had to laugh...

It was now my turn to be interviewed. I was picturing a scene from the movie The Proposal. LOL... but no. No grey room...away from the crowd. Instead I was at window 2 where everyone could hear his questions and my answers. Not that I was ashamed or anything, just wanted some level of privacy...

Here's some of the questions the interviewer asked:

• When's the first time I went to the US
• Longest I've stayed
• Who I stayed with
• Fiance's age
• When we met
• When did we start dating
• When did we get engaged
• What's his job
• Does he work for himself or someone
• Is it a job where he's home every night
• Does he live alone
• His age
• My age

And a few other personal-ish questions. All in all, it was an easy interview :D cuz I know my man! Lol. I PASSED!!!!!! I pick up the visa Thursday afternoon along with a packet. I'll find out specifics about that packet on Thrsday. The consul did mention that when booking my flight, if I have to make a connection, give about 2 hours for customs to process me. I'll have to ask what exacty to expect...

I can finally breathe a lil easier. I was losing sleep over this interview and overall process. Next step is to gather everything i'll need to relocate... Life, it's happening! :D

NOA3 - Physical and Shots

Well no more being poked and probed ;) The medical aspect is over. I did the physical today... between that and forms, I spent less than an hour at the doc. Turns out i'm healthy as a horse! She did notice that my sinus nodes (don't know if thats the word) were inflammed... so I gotta correct that.

There was a series of shots I had to have so I could pass the physical. Luckily I found my immunization record and turns out I had already gotten 3 of the 4 required shots. So I only got 1 shot today - Varicella - for the chicken pox. That 1 shot costed $200bzd. Wowza!!! Expensive.... I wasn't expecting that. The physical itself was $65.

Next step is to pay the high dollar fee and then the interview. T minus 13 days!! <3

NOA3 - Preparing for the visa interview.

So since I received my packet in the mail i've been busy getting myself organized... Here's what is required when I go to the visa interview on August the 18th:

1. Passport
2. Previous passports
3. Birth Certificate - Original plus one certified copy
4. Police record - One copy
5. I-134 (Affidavit of Support)
6. Evidence of relationship - Pictures, letters, travel documents etc.
7. Two (2) passport photos
8. Form DS-156 - Two copies; its the regular visa application form filled out online.
9. Form DS-156k - Received in the packet
10. Form DS-157 - Two copies; received in the packet
11. Receipt for payment - $700bzd (aye!)
12. Form DS-230 - Received in packet
13. Medical Examination Results

The medical aspect has its own forms and requirements. When I go to the Doctor (they gave me 2 choices of Drs... I chose the woman), I have to present the following:

• Form DS-2053
• Form DS-3024
• Form DS-3025
• Form DS-3026 (all received in the packet)
• 1 Passport photo
• Passport
• Appointment letter (received in the packet)
• Immunization record

The Embassy estimated costs for the: physical $65bzd, chest xray $60 and blood test $50. So far the chest xray costs $60 and the blood test costs $11! Imagine my surprise. I have yet to do the physical... I'm dreading it because I know the immunizations come next. I think I'm supposed to get 5 shots but i'll find out tomorrow :( So thats been a major part of my ife recently.... I'm so much closer to finally going home to my baby!

Interview Date Set!!!

I got a lovely phone call today... It was from a representative at the US Embassy here in Belize. She called to inform me that they received my packet and are gonna set my interview date to August 18th! That's in a month!

I get my packet in the mail probably Friday. I had the option of them to mailing it out to me or to pick it up there in Belmopan. So after this is crunch time! Doctor visits, immmunizations and the last lap of paperwork.

I'm so very excited! On top of the world really. We started this process in May...and get THE decision in August! Thats roughly 3 1/2 months...ahhhh, much better than the 6 months we thought it was gonna take.

I'm all smiles...this stress is almost over. Next stress...relocating. But i'm so ready to be with my baby!

NOA2 received in the mail today!

This process is going by faster than I expected :) Sam received the NOA2 in the mail today. It's the official "Petition Approved" letter. It included our receipt number and our case number: BLZ2010674*** So my packet is on it's way to Belmopan. Sort of. They said they will be sending it out in 1 week... the letter is dated July 25, 2010.

At this rate, my packet should be in hand by the end of July! Then it's doctors, immunizations, visa interview..then VISA APPROVED! I'm so very excited!!!

I get to be with my honey really soon... no more crying cuz one of us has to get on a plane. Soooo it's safe to say, i'm getting married on December 11th, 2010 ----- 12.11.10 hehe :)

Our petition was APPROVED today!!!!

How exciting!!!!!! I thought we had atleast 3 more weeks to wait to hear something. Nope :D

I had signed us up for the automatic email updates and while online tonight, the message popped up. My heart was pounding so hard as I waited for the email to load. Reminded me of the night Sam proposed. He was so nervous, his heart was racing a thousand miles a minute!

Here's what the email said in a nutshell....

"The last processing action taken on your case

Receipt Number: EAC101515***

Application Type: I129F , PETITION FOR FIANCE(E)

Current Status: Approval notice sent.

On June 21, 2010, we mailed you a notice that we have approved this I129F PETITION FOR FIANCE(E). Please follow any instructions on the notice. If you move before you receive the notice, call customer service at 1-800-375-5283.

If you have questions or concerns about your application or the case status results listed above, or if you have not received a decision from USCIS within the current processing time listed, please contact USCIS Customer Service at (800) 375-5283.

Sincerely,
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)"

Oh I love it! You can imagine the huge grin i've been sporting since I read that.... Now I wait for my packets in the mail :)

One month down...

Its been one month already since USCIS got our visa application. And, well, nothing yet. They haven't asked for any additional information or "evidence". We should hear something within this next month, hopefully.

So I guess no news is good news? :)

What ever happened to free love?

Sometime last week there was a press release stating that the cost of US visas are going up. I'm thinking, GREAT! The fiance visa I'll apply for (once our petition is approved) is now gonna cost $700bzd. Yikes! I don't know what the price was before. I wrongfully assumed that it was the same price as a visitors visa which was $260bzd. I'm bracing myself for the medical bill that goes along with this process.

Its a costly and lengthy venture... but so it goes for a long distance love like ours :)

NOA1 received in the mail today

...Day 12.

The letter said they received our application on Monday 10th May... 5 days letter we receive the NOA1 in the mail. Speedy turnaround compared to other stories I've read. The NOA1 (Notice of Action) is just a Receipt Notice informing us that they received the application and letting us know how they're gonna process the case. With it we also got our Case Number so I've signed up for automatic updates. Not that I wasn't gonna check everyday anyways :)

Hopefully all the initial evidence we provided is enough and they won't need any more documentation. The NOA2 we're now waiting on will tell us whether we're approved or denied.

So now we really wait...

The cheque cleared today!

Its been a over a week since we've heard anything about our application. I figured we'd get a letter first informing us that they received our application. We sent our package on May 4th to the Vermont Service Center. Instead we found out the cheque cleared today. Lol. I suppose the notification is in the mail.

The things we go through.... Our I-129F Checklist:

• I-129F form - Petition for Alien Fiance
• G-325A each - Biogrpahic Information form
• A copy of Sam's birth certificate - It took us a lil over 2 months to get the correct one! They kept giving him a COUNTY birth certificate, instead of a STATE one. There's a question on the forms that ask for Sam's birth certificate number (only found on the State copy).
• One (1) each passport style photos.
• Evidence we met in person - We sent a few initial evidence. Time- stamped pictures of Sam and I together over Summer and his vacation here; copies of both our passports showing the dates we travelled; copies of plane ticket stubs. When I go for my visa interview, i'll take these evidence and more like cards he's sent and emails we've exchanged back and forth. I wish I could show em my phone bill! Lol.
• Statement of Intent each - We just said something to the effect of: we have met in person and would like to be married and love each other very much :)
• And ofcourse the cheque for $455usd. Expensive.

So now we wait for approval :D

So this is what we're doing...

After extensive research and advice from a friend who was in a similar situation, my beau and I are applying for the fiance visa - I've never heard of any Belizean doing this.

But first our history: On January 26th 2010 my boyfriend proposed. We started dating last summer when I was in Texas and have been trying the long distance thing since. When he came to visit me in January, he asked me to be his forever. Ofcourse I said yes, so here we are... He's such a wonderful man. Few know his inner workings... He's got a rough exterior after all.

The purpose of the fiance visa is so that I can go to the US and get married. It's considered visa fraud if I go to the states on my visitors visa with the intention to get married and stay. Worst case scenario, imprisonment :/

Processing times vary from 3 to 7 months. We're hoping that by doing the 'right' thing, we'll be rewarded with an "APPROVED" speedy petition...