I have my appointment for Guatemala

[Socorro]

Hello,
Today I received a letter with the appointment date for my husband who is from Guatemala. The appointment is on September 24. I started my process by sending i-130 on December 16, 2006. I am so grateful to god that it has not even been a year and I have an appointment. Can any one tell me how I can schedule an appointment to present the waiver package. Also please advise how to assembly or put together the package. Is it safe to post my waiver letter for suggestions?

[M&M]

Congrats on getting your interview!

[cherrycandy001]

Congrats!

[inlimbo]

Congratulations on getting your appt.

Yes, in the past, people have posted their waiver letters here to get suggestions. You just might want to edit out personal information for privacy's sake.

What consulate do you need to go through for Guatemala?

[Paul & Kerri]

Hi there, at the time of your husbands interview he will be determined ineligible for the visa and should be given the chance to file his I-601 at that time. This is when you should have the I-601 package done and ready to turn in. Congrats on the interview and best of luck with the I-601 approval.

[Laura]

Hi Socorro!

Please post your hardship letter and we'll take a look! As the others said, just take out personally identifying information.

[SEG 79]

I forgot to mention that the US embassy in Guatemala only deals with immigration cases Monday through Thursday. The immigrant section is always closed on Fridays.

[Socorro]

Thank you all, for the support, I replaced names with XXX hopefully you guys don't get confused with who is who is so please let me know and will write, son, biological father, e.t.c. English is my second language, I am sure I have a lot of gramatical mistakes, please feel free to make any suggestions. Ok I don't see where to attach. I will attach as soon as I figure it out:shy:

[Socorro]

Hello!

[Socorro]

My case looks like this:

I-130 December 2006

I-797C Receipt I-130 December, 2006

I-797 Aproval March 2007

Paid 70 Dlls April 2007

Choice of agent Abril 2007

Paid visa $380 April 2007

Affidavit of support May 2007

DS-230 part I June 2007

DS-230 part II plus original documents, marriage certificate, birth certificate & Guatemala police record July 31, 2007

Case closed by NVC August 13, appointment assigned the next day.

Appointment date Sep 24, 2007

[Laura]

Socorro - you are a U.S. citizen, right?

Aside from that, I think this is a really good start, but I think you need to expand on a lot of the things you have mentioned. For example, you mentioned that your son's biological father would not allow him to go with you to Guatemala to be with your husband - this is a fairly high-level hardship - but you need to expand upon it more, and make sure you have some documentation, probably the best would be a letter from the father stating that he would never let your son move permanently to Guatemala.

I also think you should go into more detail about how important it is that you are here for your ailing parents. Instead of saying... "As soon as I am well established, my parents will move in with me.." say - "It is crucial that my parents move in with me in the next 6 months (or whatever) because their health is failing and they need constant care and support. If I am forced to move to Guatemala to be with my husband I will not only leave my parents in a vulnerable state, but I will be devastated that I will not be able to provide for them."

Make everything a little more dire, and just be sure you have documentation for everything. It looks like you are doing well though. And I would say, considering you are writing in your second language, you are doing a hell of a job.

[SEG 79]

Pretty good letter, just detail it with additional facts about each situation.

[Socorro]

Thank you for the support and the suggestions. Today I called my ex husband and asked him to finish his letter and to have it notarized. He told me that he will include in the letter that he denies permision for our son to move because of his parents health condition his father recovering from prostate cancer and his mother with begining of alzheimer's disease. Should I include this information in my letter?

[SEG 79]

You should have your X-husband write a letter in support of you. Yes he should include his objections about your son possibly leaving to live in a third world country!

[SEG 79]

Yes, you should also include this in your letter.

[Socorro]

Seg 79 thank you for not leaving me alone at this crutial time, just to know that you are reviewing my progress makes me feel the positive energy.

[SEG 79]

Hey, just here to help out honest people with an antiquated immigration law that deals with US Citizens.

Just to let you know, my whole process took 2 years from the I 130 fileing to the reciept of the VISA; however, it should only take you a year and a half because you have not yet missed you first VISA interview. (Thanks to the Embassy)

[Socorro]

Today I was so entusiastic but I received a message from NVC it said that the date and time on the letter they sent for the visa apoointment was wrong that my husband is not to go to that appointment and that we should call the Guatemala consulate Tuesday, wednesday or thrusday. I am trying to be optimistic. I will let you know tomorrow.

[djones9714]

Socorro: Any word on what happened here in your situation?

[Socorro]

I called today at 1pm as per the instructions, and I talked to a representative, it's funny everybody speaks Spanish. They told me that NVC made a mistake and gave appoinments for September. The appointments where supposed to be for October, our new appointment date is October 22 at 8:30. A lady from Guatemala who recently had her interview said that her husband went with her to the appoinment that he did not have any problem entering the counsulate and that he was part of the interview. For that reason I made plans to be there, just in case, I bought airline tickets, requested vacation time and since it was cheper traveling from Los Angeles, I also bought tickets for Amtrak. And they changed the date:shy: I don't know what to do now. I will talk to my boss tomorrow and see if I can travel at that time, I will see if I can change the date on the airline I know my tickets are not refundable. I could go and spend 2 weeks with him but we need to save money. Yesterday I received a letter from my son's Dr. and I received a call from the Drake Institute, they will sent me one tomorrow. At least I will not be running around like crazy collecting the evidence.

[djones9714]

Socorro: I am sorry that this happened to you; however, at least it wasn't something more serious. In any event, you can change your ticket but you will probably be charged $100.00 change fee. I was wondering whether you would be able to go with your husband or not to the interview.

Debbie

[Socorro]

I was really surprised when this person who had the interview like 2 to 3 weeks ago mentioned this. I know that in the counsulate in Mexico is not posible but may be is different in Guatemala maybe somebody else will share their experience with us.

[djones9714]

SEG 79: Please answer. Were you allowed to go with your wife in Guatemala for her interview?

[SEG 79]

Of course, any us citizen is allowed in the US embessy! I attendend the interview with my wife. It was very short. Just remember not to tell them that your spouse presented false documents to agents to get in the US, or falsely claimed citizenship at a checkpoint on the Mexican border. That answer makes your spouse inelligible to enter the United States for LIFE!

Just tell them your spouse entered without inspection. If they ask for more details, say she crossed the river. My wife said that she entered illegally and the councelor was happy with that answer. The officer also asked how my wife returned to Guatemala through Mexico. Well, she took a bus and was never asked to provide papers.

[djones9714]

Thanks for the reply. I can't understand why they would ask how she returned to Guatemala or even care. What if we just get an airline ticket from U.S. back to Guatemala??????

[Socorro]

When my husband left to Guatemala, he took a flight, He presented his Guatemala passport but they requested to see something to proof his legal status, I show them the letter that requested the police record and it needed to be requested in person, and it was ok.

[djones9714]

Socorro: That is very interesting. You mean he was asked to prove his legal status here in the U.S. or the airport in Guatemala wanted to prove that he had been here in the U.S. legally? All of my son-in-law's family goes back and forth to visit in Guatemala and all they show is their Guatemalan passport. They are legal permanent residents living here in the U.S.

[Socorro]

I wondered when they asked him that, I think what happened is that they requested an ID and he only had the Guatemala passport and a Guatemala ID that is when she asked. I explained he was doing the process to adjust status and he was required to travel back to Guatemala. Your family members had no problem because they where able to show an ID and passport since passport is required to travel to any contry.

[djones9714]

And also, they had their driver's license which is required for all travel -- even within the U.S. My son-in-law has a driver's license so we are lucky there.

[SEG 79]

The reason behind the question about how my wife traveled back to Guatemala was the councelor was setting up a legal trap for my wife that would make her inelligible to ever return to the United States.

Had my wife said she falsified any statements about being a US citizen while traveling, she would have been banned according to federal law.

Immigration officials are always looking for any violation of federal immigration laws which enables them to permanently ban the person from reentering the United States.


Just be careful with what comes out of your mouth.

[Socorro]

Thank you for the advise!

[SEG 79]

Believe it or not, my wife recieved her drivers license a week ago. What was Texas thinking!:bounce:

[Socorro]

Congratulations, finally everything is normal as it should have been. The wait was worth it! I am very happy for you guys..

[djones9714]

SEG 79: I can't believe this. It is good to see that you can tease after everything you have been through. You better watch out -- next she is going to want a new car and make it a convertible while you're at it.

[SEG 79]

You are so right. Currently she is driving my 1988 S-10 Blazer 2 Door (its a big turd!)

[Socorro]

We had an interview on October 22 at 8:30am they told us we where missing one of the 2 police records required. At 11am we where back insde the consulate for the final interview and they gave us a form requesting the missing document waiver letter and form i-601. Next day at 11am we returned and turned in our waiver, documents and fee. I notice that they did not provide any information on writing the waiver letter. I asked if my husband could visit other countries while waiting for aproval and the answer was yes. Today I sent an e-mail to confirm this information. It would be easier for me to visit him in Mexico. Thank you all for your help and support. I feel very good about my waiver package. Thank you immigrate2us!!

[djones9714]

Welcome back. It sounds like your appointment went well. I have a couple of questions:

1. What police records were you missing>
2. You stated that you turned in the waiver the next day. Were you not able to submit it right on the spot when you had your interview?
3. Did you have to make an appointment the next day to hand in your waiver?
4. Did they say how long it would take for the waiver approval?

[angela256z]

Congrats on a good interview. Hopefully you will get an approval soon.

[Socorro]

Welcome back. It sounds like your appointment went well. I have a couple of questions:

1. What police records were you missing>
They request policiaco y judicial. The NVC only requested the police record. They told us the Judicial is to know if he has ever been in jail
2. You stated that you turned in the waiver the next day. Were you not able to submit it right on the spot when you had your interview?
Because I did not have all required paper work
3. Did you have to make an appointment the next day to hand in your waiver? They gave us a yellow piece of paper with instructions to return the next day at 11am with missing document, i-601, waiver letter and payment f545 for waiver and 85 for finger prints
4. Did they say how long it would take for the waiver approval?
They told us 5-6 monthe and today I received an e-mail they say aproximately 6 months and that they will call us with an aswer. My waiver was received by DHS on October 24. I also asked via e-mail if my husband could travel to other countries while waiting for a decision they responded it is permited but not to enter USA.
Over all the experience was very good it does not feel like an interview. We were very positive and every body was really nice. I was never given any information on how to write the waiver. They just said I should write a letter stating the hardships to USC and never mentioned about including evidence. I am very glad I found immigrate2us and I was prepared!:thumbup:

[djones9714]

Thank you so much. This is great information. Hopefully your husband will get approved in 5 months like SEG79. Welcome back. I know it is going to be a hard 5 months just sitting back waiting. I feel confident he will get approved. Good luck and keep in touch. We are still waiting for the receipt notice for our I-130 - going to be a long process.

[SEG 79]

Be aware when you return for your interview after your I 601 approval, you will need to get new police records. Please don't make the same mistake that I made when I went for our VISA. They say you need police records that are valid for six months; however, those records need to be valid for the next six months from that date of your VISA Interview.

Sincerely,

Shawn Groskreutz

[JennyM]

Be aware when you return for your interview after your I 601 approval, you will need to get new police records. Please don't make the same mistake that I made when I went for our VISA. They say you need police records that are valid for six months; however, those records need to be valid for the next six months from that date of your VISA Interview.

Sincerely,

Shawn Groskreutz

Seg,
I remember you said you need police records when you have your interview. but you need to get them again when you pick up your visa??? Where do you get the police records from? Guatemala city? My husband is on the east coast near the Rio Dulce and Santo Tomas de Castilla. Did you get advanced notice of when to pick us your visa?

[SEG 79]

You probably can recieve those records in both places.

[Socorro]

Thank you for this information. There was no way you could have known, and thanks to you we will be prepared for that very important day.

[SEG 79]

During the waiver process in Guatemala, the cousulate will call you when the processing of your waiver is complete. They should call you even if your first waiver is not approved.

When the consulate approved our waiver, they called my wifes cell phone in Guatemala. However, my wife was vacationing in Mexico with her family at the time. She left her cell phone with her sister in Hueheutenango while she was on vacation.

This is how we did not know that we needed new police records at the time of the waiver approval--her sister never wrote down the information that the consulate provided during that phone call. When the consulate calls ya'll, they should infrom you that new police records from Guatemala are needed.

ALL RIGHT!

[Socorro]

Seg 79, It has not even been one month since we turned in the waiver and I wish time could fly. You know exactly what I mean.:rolleyes: I went to the immigration office in Tijuana Mexico because I hoped I could get him a Mexican Visa so that he could come to my Parent's house in Tijuana to celebrate christmas together but they told me it would take 3 months:shy: How did your wife get her visa for Mexico. I am also Mexican is for sure he would get a visa but not in time for December.

[guatemalawaiver]

Socorro,
My husband and I are living in Quetzaltenango and he was able to get a Mexican Visa within a day at the Mexican Consulate in Quetzaltenango. We got the application and all the info on the Mexican Embassy's website. Now, we were only traveling to San Cristobal de las Casas which is about 6 hrs from Quetzaltenango. Perhaps they make it harder if your husband will be traveling all the way to Tijuana. Your husband should go to the Embassy in Guatemala City or the consulate in Quetzaltenango or Tecun Uman to get the information. We dropped off our application and his passport and in the afternoon they had printed his visa.

[Socorro]

Thank you so much for your answer you gave me new hope. It would be wonderful to have him with me in Christmas. In what state are you guys living?