Hello hello and good god! There's been a lot going on! Ive been away enjoying my 2nd Anniversary and my husband's first flying lesson in a light aircraft! Fun stuff.
Although alot of the questions have already been answered I'll chip in anway.
2003 US Poverty Guidlines
For the 48 Contiguous states, district of columbia, puerto rico, virgin islands, and guam. Hawaii & Alaska are different.
(A) = Household Size (B) = 100% At Poverty Line (C) = 125% Above Poverty Line
(A) 2 . . . . . (B) $12120 . . . . . (C) $15150
(A) 3 . . . . . (B) $15260 . . . . . (C) $19075
(A) 4 . . . . . (B) $18400 . . . . . (C) $23000
(A) 5 . . . . . (B) $21540 . . . . . (C) $26925
There's more information in the I-864 Affidavit of Support pdf packet which can be downloaded from
www.uscis.gov. These poverty guidlines came into effect on April 1 2003 and are valid until the new guidlines are released in spring 2004. If youre expecting an interview in the spring keep checking for the new guidlines.
I havent found any info specifically for families with babies on the way but the general opinion is that unborn babies dont count towards the household number. I have no idea if thats actually the embassy's view.
NYState_of_Mind Posted on: Jan 12th, 2004, 3:05pm
Hi Sarah, I'm also in the process of moving back to NY. We submitted our I-130 form along with with 325a forms. I see that you received an application the next day.. Now I'm wondering why I didn't...
What I meant by " 07 . 30 . 2003: Applications arrived before 8:00 AM Smooth work by Royal Mail. " was that we'd sent our petitions (applications) by next day registered post so I could know they arrived. Indeed they did arrive at the Embassy the next day.
NYState_of_Mind Posted on: Jan 12th, 2004, 3:05pm
The NOA that you received on 8/11 is that the same letter I received? Also as far as I know the next forms I need to fill out are I-864? What is the DS-230/2001?
Also you didn't mention the police certificate by Scotland Yard. How long did that take you to get?
The NOA that I got on 8/11 is the same thing that you got. Eventually you'd get Packet 3, which Ive seen mentioned, in the mail with instructions. I did a lot of research before I sent anything off in the post so I knew I could save time if I sent the DS-230 Pt I and checklist off on the same day as the I-130. DS-230 Pt I & II are supposed to be filled out by the immigrant but Im a form-junkie so I filled them out (with a strange glee in my heart) but had him sign them. No need to check any of the boxes that said you helped if you filled them out - as if the immigration officers need to know.
You'll need the I-864 for your interview (dont worry about having it notarized - they do that for you on the day).
I got my husband's police certificate almost 1 year to the day before his interview. I thought we might have to get a new one but the embassy assured me that it was good for 1 year for visa purposes and we didnt have any problems with it on the interview day. I think it cost £10.00 and took around 30 days. At the moment they're sometimes taking almost 40 days. You can pick up a form at your local police station. Its the forum for a criminal/conviction history.
On Vaccination History:
We went to a great spree to try and track down martin's vaccination history. We eventually had the nurse at our doc's write down what was on his file, the date he had the shot, and what it was, on letter-headed paper. All he needed was tetanus/dipthyeria (sp?) and MMR. He got the T/D at our doc's and the MMR at the surgery in London - it cost about £40 I think. No problem
And you get a nifty x-ray of your spouse's chest as a parting gift. Too bad you cant rip into it and frame it as a conversation piece. You have to give it to immigration at the POE.
Posted by: NYState_of_Mind Posted on: Jan 13th, 2004, 1:42am
(3) For documents supporting our applicant (passports, birth certificate, marriage certificates, etc.) it states: Please obtain the original documents or certified copy..... There's no way I am submitting the originals in the mail of our marriage license, birth certificates or passports. Will getting the copies notarized ok? Will this suffice? How did you handle this one? I'm not much on legal stuff but I do think notarized is different from certified? Then it states " Do not send any documents to the Embassy. You will need to bring all your original documents, or certified copies, plus one photocopy to the immigrant visa interview." But don't you need to submit the supporting documents with the DS230 form?
(4) Then on Part II of the DS230 form it states "The fee should be paid in US dollars or local currency......how much is this? The only question you can't fill out on Part II of the DS230 form is nubmer 35? I read that Part II should not be filled out until the interview? But wouldn't it state that? Like it states Do Not Write Below The Following Line. The consular officer will assist you in asnwering item 35 Just makes sense.
All you need to do is obtain originals or certified copies of what they ask. Send photocopies with the applications and save the originals for the interview. Also provide photocopies of everything at the interview - photocopy paperclipped to the back.
The visa fee is payable in US Dollars on the day of the interview. They have a lazy-assed chashier there who accepts major credit cards - which will do all the money exchange for you. The credit card can be US or UK - doesnt matter. You can find current exchange rates at
www.x-rates.com.
DS-230 Pt II must be signed in the presence of a counsular officer, in otherwords you do that at the embassy. I think its one of the first things you do, as I recall. Fill everything out BEFORE the interview though - it saves time. Just dont sign it.
Best wishes to all,
Sarah
