Leah’s Cafe

Since the expedite request has been approved by National Visa Center on July 24, the file will be sent to KL consular by DHL express mail, hopefully by July 25. It will take 3-4 business days in transit. KL consular is an efficient consular with no backlog. Under normal circumstances, should expect to receive a packet of forms from KL consular within 1-2 weeks. Some consulates i.e. GuangZhuo and Montreal are so behind with their workloads, the files get store in the warehouse for 3-6 months, before they do anything!

We have already downloaded the forms from the internet and filled up. They are two forms: the DS-230 immigrant visa application form and I-864 affidavit of support form.

The beneficiary now the applicant (that’s me) needs to submit the DS-230 immigration visa application form together with the supporting documents upon receiving the packet from the consular. The supporting documents include the original long birth certificate from JPN, marriage certificate, Malaysian Certificate of Good Conduct, one US sized passport photo and photocopy of the data page of my Malaysian passport.

The petitioner now the sponsor (that’s the big boy) needs to submit the I-864 affidavit of support with all the supporting documents that prove his current income and employment. He needs to mail his IRS tax transcripts for the past three years, pay stubs for the past six months, letter from his employer stating his position, starting date and term of employment (part time or full time).

The affidavit of support is a contract between the big boy and Uncle Sam (that’s the US government), he has to guarantee that me will not become a public charge. If the immigrant has to claim mean-tested social benefits, then Uncle Sam has the right to recover the sum from the sponsor. The affidavit is binding as long as we are alive, even if in the event of divorce! In fact, very few conditions exclude him from the obligations of this contract, one of them is death, second is if I become US citizen (which I don’t plan to at this moment in time) or I have worked long enough to earn enough credits to be eligible for social security. In another word, the big boy is making a big financial commitment, imposed and enforced by Uncle Sam. :-)

After the consular goes through the the DS-230 package and I-864 package submitted, they will request for more documents if anything is missing. Else, I should receive another package which consists of the interview appointment letter and information on medical checkup. Then will have to go for medical check up, X-ray and vaccinations before the interview.

For the interview, would have to bring all the documents for proofs of bona fide marriage. Since we have been married for three years and KL is not a notorious consular that rejects immigrant visas for spouses with frivolous reasons, we are not too worry about the interview. But, we still have to prepare all the proofs in case they ask to see them. We have emails, letters, cards, photos, telephone bills, insurance letter, bank statements, etc. They are just too many if I would to print all of them, in order to save a few more trees, I will only select some of this to print out. :-)