I have my visa! Flying to the US on September 25th!
Sep 1st 2004, 3:47 pm
#1
Tod's Princess
Thread Starter
Joined: Jan 2004
Location: Me: Ghent, Belgium - Tod: Providence (Rhode Island), USA
Posts: 180
I have my visa! Flying to the US on September 25th!
Hello to all!
I think I have had the most hectic two months in my entire life, although I know I have to be grateful that I have probably had one of the easiest visa-processes of all.
Collecting all the paperwork started in December 2003 for us.
In Belgium, before a couple can get married, they have to give notification of their marriage in the town administration where they are to get married and sign the notification papers. After the notification, in my town Ghent, you have to wait at least 6 weeks (and 6 months maximum) before you can be officially wife and husband. For the notification, we needed all sorts of paperwork... some of them hard to retrieve in the US.
My husband had to bring:
- his birth certificate
- a proof that he was not married
- a proof of his residence
- a proof of his nationality.
The birth certificate was easy to get of course.
He got the proof that he was not married from the state of RI, apparently signed by a notary public.
For the proof of residence, he could use his voter's registration since his home address is written on there.
The proof of nationality was harder to get. The logic in the States is: "well, isn't your passport proof enough??". Understandable of course. But anyway, luckily, the American Embassy here in Belgium does provide a proof of nationality to American citizens. It had to be legalized afterwards by the Belgian Foreign Affairs Ministry.
My husband (then fiancé) came to Belgium in March 2004 (with the three required documents from the US) and we both signed the notification of marriage in my town administration after we got the proof of nationality from the Embassy and had it legalized at the Foreign Affairs Ministry.
Since he couldn't stay here for 6 weeks (he has a job!), he went back to the US. Our marriage was scheduled Friday, July 16, 2004. He came to Belgium on Thursday July 15th and we had our little legal marriage ceremony at the Ghent town hall the next day at 9 am in the morning. That same day, in the afternoon, we went to the American Embassy in Brussels to start the DCF process. We had already filled out the forms I-130, DS-230 Part I and G-325A. We also showed our passports, we had one color photo for each of us, although mine was too small (it was a Belgian size passport photo) but it was okay for that day. I also had to show my ID card to prove that I am legally residing in Belgium. To prove our relationship, our marriage booklet sufficed for the time being. Because we got married that same day, it was impossible to get an exact certified copy of our marriage certificate.
Also, since I had read on these boards that my husband could sign the Affidavit of Support (I-864) in front of consular officer during our first visit to the Embassy, we wanted to do that too. So we made sure that my husband had already filled out the Affidavit of Support and brought all the supporting documents for the Affidavit with him. He could sign the Affidavit with no problem on July 16th, so that was a worry less for the next time!
All the documents were approved by the consular officer (a nice lady). We payed the $185 fee and that was it.
The whole process didn't really take very long. They gave us a little packet of sheets of paper and instructions on what to do next. The consular officer highlighted on the sheet with the instructions what I still had to do and told me to contact the Embassy when I had all my paperwork in order. The consular officer told me that the photo requirements changed and that I also needed 2 larger photos front-face and a couple of those 3/4 pictures... There was a photo-place close to the Embassy and that's where we took the pictures after we got out of the Embassy that Friday. I am Muslim and am wearing a headscarf, but my ear and hairline had to be visible on the pictures, so I wore my scarf bandana-like on the pictures and made sure my hairline is visible.
That was it for the time being. My husband and I went to Turkey on Monday July 19th for our wedding reception that was held on Sunday, July 25th. It was very beautiful. After our reception, we spent another week in Turkey. We came back on Monday, August 2nd and my husband left for the US on Thursday, August 5th.
From that moment on, I had no time whatsoever to keep busy with the visa-process since I still had a thesis to hand in on August 16th for my graduation (hopefully I'll graduate on September 23rd). After I handed in my thesis, I started working on the visa-process again. Luckily, I had already applied for my police records beginning of July and I had received them within a week. Really, the only thing I still had to do was to undergo my medical examination and get a certified copy of my marriage certificate. I already had my pictures and police certificates. Our Affidavit of Support was signed previously too.
On Tuesday, August 10th, I called the doctor's office in Brussels to make an appointment for my medical examination. The lady on the phone told me "to come tomorrow" but I had to refuse (my thesis, remember??). So she gave me an appointment for the next week Monday. I couldn't go again! That's the day that I had to hand in my thesis in university.. So anyway, we agreed on Wednesday, August 18th. I went to the Centre Medical Meyser in Brussels (apparently, it's in the same street where the NATO building is). First, there was a short, old guy who took my chest X-rays. Then I had to wait a little bit until the doctor came for my examination. He filled in some forms for the Embassy, he asked me some questions (do you smoke, do you drink, do you have this or that disease, etc. etc.), he measured and weighed me. He took blood and gave me a tetanus booster (in my arm and it was swollen and red and burny and itchy and it hurt for the next week!). Anyway, after that and having paid close to € 90, I could go. He told me I could pick up the results on Monday the 23rd, before noon. It was a big brown envelope with all the documents. On the envelope it said "Visa OK".
The next day, on Thursday, August 19th, I got my marriage certificate and in the afternoon, I called the Embassy to make an appointment for my final visa interview. The lady on the phone told me Tuesday, 24th but since I had to undergo surgery that day to get my 4 wisdom teeth removed (full of complications afterwards, I still have a lump on my left lower cheek bone), I had to refuse. So she told me to come on Monday, August 30th.
I went to the Embassy on Monday the 30th. The appointmet was at 2 pm but it didn't really matter because you have to form a line in front of window 1 or 2 anyway. There was just one guy before me and when it was my turn, the lady already recognized me. Must be from the previous time I was there with my husband and the countless emails I've written them. She checked all the documents they already had. Then I handed over my marriage certificate, the police certificate, my passport and the pictures. Apparently, by that time, they only wanted the front-face pictures and not the 3/4 pictures anymore. I only had two front-face pictures. One she used for my passport and one on the brown envelope. So she just used the 3/4 on the couple of other documents that required it. She wasn't giving me a hard time over it at all. After completing the pile of documents I could go and pay the $335 fee.
Then I had to wait and wait and wait... until the consular officer (a young guy this time) came. He said hello and then said "you finally reached the end of a long process, huh?". He checked all the paperwork and then I had to raise my right hand and swear that all the information that I filled out in form DS-230 Part II is true. After I swore, I could sign the paper. Then he took my fingerprints with a scanner (left and right index finger). He said that was it and I could take a seat until everything could be processed. There were no questions whatsoever asked.
It was a long wait but fun nevertheless. I talked to another young woman who was there for a fiancé visa, I could listen to the adventures of some American tourists in Belgium who got their passports stolen, I could look at little babies of a couple of weeks old who were there with their parents to get an American passport, etc. I was the last one to leave the Embassy that day... but it didn't matter, because I had my brand new visa in my passport AND the sealed not-so-mysterious-anymore brown envelope in my hands, ready to go to the US to join my sweetheart.
The next day, I bought my one-way ticket to Boston. I'm scheduled to go on Saturday, September 25th. I'll fly from Brussels to Heathrow and from Heathrow to Boston with British Airways.
I know, it's a long story but I promised I would tell.
I have had so much help on these boards. The information I got from this place is priceless. Thanks to British Expats, my process went smoothly and painless.
Thank you!!
Take care all.
I think I have had the most hectic two months in my entire life, although I know I have to be grateful that I have probably had one of the easiest visa-processes of all.
Collecting all the paperwork started in December 2003 for us.
In Belgium, before a couple can get married, they have to give notification of their marriage in the town administration where they are to get married and sign the notification papers. After the notification, in my town Ghent, you have to wait at least 6 weeks (and 6 months maximum) before you can be officially wife and husband. For the notification, we needed all sorts of paperwork... some of them hard to retrieve in the US.
My husband had to bring:
- his birth certificate
- a proof that he was not married
- a proof of his residence
- a proof of his nationality.
The birth certificate was easy to get of course.
He got the proof that he was not married from the state of RI, apparently signed by a notary public.
For the proof of residence, he could use his voter's registration since his home address is written on there.
The proof of nationality was harder to get. The logic in the States is: "well, isn't your passport proof enough??". Understandable of course. But anyway, luckily, the American Embassy here in Belgium does provide a proof of nationality to American citizens. It had to be legalized afterwards by the Belgian Foreign Affairs Ministry.
My husband (then fiancé) came to Belgium in March 2004 (with the three required documents from the US) and we both signed the notification of marriage in my town administration after we got the proof of nationality from the Embassy and had it legalized at the Foreign Affairs Ministry.
Since he couldn't stay here for 6 weeks (he has a job!), he went back to the US. Our marriage was scheduled Friday, July 16, 2004. He came to Belgium on Thursday July 15th and we had our little legal marriage ceremony at the Ghent town hall the next day at 9 am in the morning. That same day, in the afternoon, we went to the American Embassy in Brussels to start the DCF process. We had already filled out the forms I-130, DS-230 Part I and G-325A. We also showed our passports, we had one color photo for each of us, although mine was too small (it was a Belgian size passport photo) but it was okay for that day. I also had to show my ID card to prove that I am legally residing in Belgium. To prove our relationship, our marriage booklet sufficed for the time being. Because we got married that same day, it was impossible to get an exact certified copy of our marriage certificate.
Also, since I had read on these boards that my husband could sign the Affidavit of Support (I-864) in front of consular officer during our first visit to the Embassy, we wanted to do that too. So we made sure that my husband had already filled out the Affidavit of Support and brought all the supporting documents for the Affidavit with him. He could sign the Affidavit with no problem on July 16th, so that was a worry less for the next time!
All the documents were approved by the consular officer (a nice lady). We payed the $185 fee and that was it.
The whole process didn't really take very long. They gave us a little packet of sheets of paper and instructions on what to do next. The consular officer highlighted on the sheet with the instructions what I still had to do and told me to contact the Embassy when I had all my paperwork in order. The consular officer told me that the photo requirements changed and that I also needed 2 larger photos front-face and a couple of those 3/4 pictures... There was a photo-place close to the Embassy and that's where we took the pictures after we got out of the Embassy that Friday. I am Muslim and am wearing a headscarf, but my ear and hairline had to be visible on the pictures, so I wore my scarf bandana-like on the pictures and made sure my hairline is visible.
That was it for the time being. My husband and I went to Turkey on Monday July 19th for our wedding reception that was held on Sunday, July 25th. It was very beautiful. After our reception, we spent another week in Turkey. We came back on Monday, August 2nd and my husband left for the US on Thursday, August 5th.
From that moment on, I had no time whatsoever to keep busy with the visa-process since I still had a thesis to hand in on August 16th for my graduation (hopefully I'll graduate on September 23rd). After I handed in my thesis, I started working on the visa-process again. Luckily, I had already applied for my police records beginning of July and I had received them within a week. Really, the only thing I still had to do was to undergo my medical examination and get a certified copy of my marriage certificate. I already had my pictures and police certificates. Our Affidavit of Support was signed previously too.
On Tuesday, August 10th, I called the doctor's office in Brussels to make an appointment for my medical examination. The lady on the phone told me "to come tomorrow" but I had to refuse (my thesis, remember??). So she gave me an appointment for the next week Monday. I couldn't go again! That's the day that I had to hand in my thesis in university.. So anyway, we agreed on Wednesday, August 18th. I went to the Centre Medical Meyser in Brussels (apparently, it's in the same street where the NATO building is). First, there was a short, old guy who took my chest X-rays. Then I had to wait a little bit until the doctor came for my examination. He filled in some forms for the Embassy, he asked me some questions (do you smoke, do you drink, do you have this or that disease, etc. etc.), he measured and weighed me. He took blood and gave me a tetanus booster (in my arm and it was swollen and red and burny and itchy and it hurt for the next week!). Anyway, after that and having paid close to € 90, I could go. He told me I could pick up the results on Monday the 23rd, before noon. It was a big brown envelope with all the documents. On the envelope it said "Visa OK".
The next day, on Thursday, August 19th, I got my marriage certificate and in the afternoon, I called the Embassy to make an appointment for my final visa interview. The lady on the phone told me Tuesday, 24th but since I had to undergo surgery that day to get my 4 wisdom teeth removed (full of complications afterwards, I still have a lump on my left lower cheek bone), I had to refuse. So she told me to come on Monday, August 30th.
I went to the Embassy on Monday the 30th. The appointmet was at 2 pm but it didn't really matter because you have to form a line in front of window 1 or 2 anyway. There was just one guy before me and when it was my turn, the lady already recognized me. Must be from the previous time I was there with my husband and the countless emails I've written them. She checked all the documents they already had. Then I handed over my marriage certificate, the police certificate, my passport and the pictures. Apparently, by that time, they only wanted the front-face pictures and not the 3/4 pictures anymore. I only had two front-face pictures. One she used for my passport and one on the brown envelope. So she just used the 3/4 on the couple of other documents that required it. She wasn't giving me a hard time over it at all. After completing the pile of documents I could go and pay the $335 fee.
Then I had to wait and wait and wait... until the consular officer (a young guy this time) came. He said hello and then said "you finally reached the end of a long process, huh?". He checked all the paperwork and then I had to raise my right hand and swear that all the information that I filled out in form DS-230 Part II is true. After I swore, I could sign the paper. Then he took my fingerprints with a scanner (left and right index finger). He said that was it and I could take a seat until everything could be processed. There were no questions whatsoever asked.
It was a long wait but fun nevertheless. I talked to another young woman who was there for a fiancé visa, I could listen to the adventures of some American tourists in Belgium who got their passports stolen, I could look at little babies of a couple of weeks old who were there with their parents to get an American passport, etc. I was the last one to leave the Embassy that day... but it didn't matter, because I had my brand new visa in my passport AND the sealed not-so-mysterious-anymore brown envelope in my hands, ready to go to the US to join my sweetheart.
The next day, I bought my one-way ticket to Boston. I'm scheduled to go on Saturday, September 25th. I'll fly from Brussels to Heathrow and from Heathrow to Boston with British Airways.
I know, it's a long story but I promised I would tell.
I have had so much help on these boards. The information I got from this place is priceless. Thanks to British Expats, my process went smoothly and painless.
Thank you!!
Take care all.
Sep 1st 2004, 3:59 pm
#2
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 2,033
Re: I have my visa! Flying to the US on September 25th!
Congratulations, Noortje!
Don't worry about the long story, it was fun to read.
Have a safe flight and if you have the chance, let us know if you graduated.
Elaine
Don't worry about the long story, it was fun to read.
Have a safe flight and if you have the chance, let us know if you graduated.
Elaine
Sep 1st 2004, 4:05 pm
#3
MODERATOR
Joined: Apr 2003
Location: Phoenix, Arizona
Posts: 58,679
Re: I have my visa! Flying to the US on September 25th!
Wow, Congratulations, Noor! I'm jealous you got to spend time in Turkey. 
I'm really so happy for you! Hooray!
Hugs,
Rene
I'm really so happy for you! Hooray!Hugs,
Rene
Sep 1st 2004, 4:11 pm
#4
Tod's Princess
Thread Starter
Joined: Jan 2004
Location: Me: Ghent, Belgium - Tod: Providence (Rhode Island), USA
Posts: 180
Re: I have my visa! Flying to the US on September 25th!
Hehe, Rene, Turkey is where my roots are after all! It was just great...
Thank you too Elaine. I will let you guys know for sure.
What baffles me the most is that I could probably finish this visa process in maximum 3 weeks if I wanted to. They all wanted everything to go fast-fast-fast!
Thank you too Elaine. I will let you guys know for sure.
What baffles me the most is that I could probably finish this visa process in maximum 3 weeks if I wanted to. They all wanted everything to go fast-fast-fast!
Sep 1st 2004, 4:32 pm
#5
Concierge
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 46,387
Re: I have my visa! Flying to the US on September 25th!
I loved your story. Being that I've been around so long it almost feels as if I've watched a baby bird grow strong and self-reliance and has now flown the nest.
You wrote out your saga so beautifully and in such detail that I'm asking that you please cut and paste it to the experience page for future DCF's from Belguim. It will be a wonderful asset. Thanks so much.
http://www.kamya.com/interview/intro.html
Rita
You wrote out your saga so beautifully and in such detail that I'm asking that you please cut and paste it to the experience page for future DCF's from Belguim. It will be a wonderful asset. Thanks so much.
http://www.kamya.com/interview/intro.html
Rita
Sep 1st 2004, 4:40 pm
#6
Tod's Princess
Thread Starter
Joined: Jan 2004
Location: Me: Ghent, Belgium - Tod: Providence (Rhode Island), USA
Posts: 180
Re: I have my visa! Flying to the US on September 25th!
Originally Posted by Rete
I loved your story. Being that I've been around so long it almost feels as if I've watched a baby bird grow strong and self-reliance and has now flown the nest.
You wrote out your saga so beautifully and in such detail that I'm asking that you please cut and paste it to the experience page for future DCF's from Belguim. It will be a wonderful asset. Thanks so much.
http://www.kamya.com/interview/intro.html
Rita
You wrote out your saga so beautifully and in such detail that I'm asking that you please cut and paste it to the experience page for future DCF's from Belguim. It will be a wonderful asset. Thanks so much.
http://www.kamya.com/interview/intro.html
Rita
I already did that. I pasted the whole story on the form at Kamya and sent it.
Thanks for your support too by the way. I really appreciate it!
Sep 1st 2004, 5:43 pm
#7
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Oct 2003
Location: Phoenix AZ
Posts: 2,345
Re: I have my visa! Flying to the US on September 25th!
Congratulations Noortje :d:d
Sep 1st 2004, 7:10 pm
#8
SUPER CRUNCHY BALCONY COW
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 9,476
Re: I have my visa! Flying to the US on September 25th!
Originally Posted by Noortje
Hello to all!
I think I have had the most hectic two months in my entire life, although I know I have to be grateful that I have probably had one of the easiest visa-processes of all.
Collecting all the paperwork started in December 2003 for us.
In Belgium, before a couple can get married, they have to give notification of their marriage in the town administration where they are to get married and sign .
I think I have had the most hectic two months in my entire life, although I know I have to be grateful that I have probably had one of the easiest visa-processes of all.
Collecting all the paperwork started in December 2003 for us.
In Belgium, before a couple can get married, they have to give notification of their marriage in the town administration where they are to get married and sign .
Now go rest girlie.. you must be exhausted after all that typing!! lol
Wooo!! Yipe!
Sep 1st 2004, 7:23 pm
#9
Forum Regular
Joined: Mar 2003
Location: from Melbourne AUS to Santa Monica CA
Posts: 115
Re: I have my visa! Flying to the US on September 25th!
Congratulations!!
Have a safe trip.
Kate
Have a safe trip.
Kate
Sep 1st 2004, 7:24 pm
#10
Forum Regular
Joined: Jun 2004
Location: Cincinnati, OH
Posts: 159
Re: I have my visa! Flying to the US on September 25th!
Feels great doesn't it! Congratulations to you both.
Ellie
Ellie
Sep 1st 2004, 7:29 pm
#11
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Dec 2003
Location: MA
Posts: 773
Re: I have my visa! Flying to the US on September 25th!
Congratulations to you. I know how you feel. Another expat flying to Boston Well you're off to RI but not far from me woohoo
Well you're off to RI but not far from me woohoo
Last edited by whistlestop01; Sep 1st 2004 at 7:53 pm.
Sep 1st 2004, 7:47 pm
#12
Don't Know, Don't Care
Joined: Jun 2004
Location: California
Posts: 1,385
Re: I have my visa! Flying to the US on September 25th!
Congrats,, is always great to read about success stories
Patrick
Patrick
Sep 1st 2004, 8:10 pm
#13
Tod's Princess
Thread Starter
Joined: Jan 2004
Location: Me: Ghent, Belgium - Tod: Providence (Rhode Island), USA
Posts: 180
Re: I have my visa! Flying to the US on September 25th!
Thank you, thank you, thank you all! *bow bow bow*
I am a remotely happy girl right now, yes. Just the thought of leaving my parents, my 22 year old brother, my 18 year old sister and my 11 year old baby brother here makes me so sad. We are a very close family... and I am the oldest one to leave the nest... But thank God plane tickets are not so expensive anymore. I know I am going to miss them very much in the beginning.
And eh.. Tweeky-girl, it's ok, I'm looking for some info on the net about "lump on bone after wisdom teeth surgery". LOL!
I am a remotely happy girl right now, yes. Just the thought of leaving my parents, my 22 year old brother, my 18 year old sister and my 11 year old baby brother here makes me so sad. We are a very close family... and I am the oldest one to leave the nest... But thank God plane tickets are not so expensive anymore. I know I am going to miss them very much in the beginning.
And eh.. Tweeky-girl, it's ok, I'm looking for some info on the net about "lump on bone after wisdom teeth surgery". LOL!
Sep 2nd 2004, 11:58 pm
#14
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 35,082
Re: I have my visa! Flying to the US on September 25th!
Originally Posted by Noortje
Thanks to British Expats, my process went smoothly and painless.
Congratulations on your successful IV experience!
