Last stages of Visa application

[no comment]

Wife & I were married in Peru in 2010 and are just now getting to the final stages of the visa process, including the medical exam.  That exam includes 15 required vaccinations and my wife doesn't seem to have records of vaccinations on hand.  She has lived in one location all her life so she'll go to the local hospital and inquire about records but we have to prepare for having no records. 

For those who have gone through the Visa process, what can you say about that part of it?  Fifteen vaccinations is quite a bit and I'd imagine that would overwhelm the immune system, and so would have to be administered over time. 

FWIW, in jm21-2's thread Re:fiance and spousal visa processing delays I raised the question about the necessity of police records as part of the civil documents to be submitted for the visa application in Lima, Peru. The NVC website said they are "... available but not necessary."  I put the question to the NVC via e-mail and finally received a response reiterating what had been written in one part of their website and not supported in another.  I'll have the wife print a copy of that e-mail to take to the interview.

Speaking of the visa interview, the topic of whether the other half of the relationship should be present at the interview has been covered on this forum, but it would be worthwhile to have recent experience on that. 

Assuming positive results from the interview, what's the time until the visa is in hand?  Is it realistic to gamble and go down for the interview on a round trip ticket and hope to purchase a one way ticket for her?

[Woody]

Unless it is a series vaccine, other than it being painful, I don't think there is a problem getting 15 in one go. I watched a guy get 12 different vaccines in a row because he was getting stationed in Korea and they lost his shot records (hence the reason I always keep my yellow shot card and get that updated and NEVER let them keep it in my medical records). Then again, this was the Army...

[thekfc]

During her medical my wife was only given 2 vaccines - measles & tetanus (I think). There were more on the list but only 2 were given - I think that she may have to take the rest when she arrives here in the US.

[piglett]

Wife & I were married in Peru in 2010 and are just now getting to the final stages of the visa process, including the medical exam.  That exam includes 15 required vaccinations and my wife doesn't seem to have records of vaccinations on hand.  She has lived in one location all her life so she'll go to the local hospital and inquire about records but we have to prepare for having no records. 
For those who have gone through the Visa process, what can you say about that part of it?  Fifteen vaccinations is quite a bit and I'd imagine that would overwhelm the immune system, and so would have to be administered over time. 
FWIW, in jm21-2's thread Re:fiance and spousal visa processing delays I raised the question about the necessity of police records as part of the civil documents to be submitted for the visa application in Lima, Peru. The NVC website said they are "... available but not necessary."  I put the question to the NVC via e-mail and finally received a response reiterating what had been written in one part of their website and not supported in another.  I'll have the wife print a copy of that e-mail to take to the interview.Speaking of the visa interview, the topic of whether the other half of the relationship should be present at the interview has been covered on this forum, but it would be worthwhile to have recent experience on that.Assuming positive results from the interview, what's the time until the visa is in hand?  Is it realistic to gamble and go down for the interview on a round trip ticket and hope to purchase a one way ticket for her?

My understanding is this there are tests that can be taken to see if she is already immune to some of these things, if so she maybe she can just show the test results & get a hell of a lot less shots.


pig

[william3rd]

Wife & I were married in Peru in 2010 and are just now getting to the final stages of the visa process, including the medical exam.  That exam includes 15 required vaccinations and my wife doesn't seem to have records of vaccinations on hand.  She has lived in one location all her life so she'll go to the local hospital and inquire about records but we have to prepare for having no records. 

For those who have gone through the Visa process, what can you say about that part of it?  Fifteen vaccinations is quite a bit and I'd imagine that would overwhelm the immune system, and so would have to be administered over time. 

FWIW, in jm21-2's thread Re:fiance and spousal visa processing delays I raised the question about the necessity of police records as part of the civil documents to be submitted for the visa application in Lima, Peru. The NVC website said they are "... available but not necessary."  I put the question to the NVC via e-mail and finally received a response reiterating what had been written in one part of their website and not supported in another.  I'll have the wife print a copy of that e-mail to take to the interview.

Speaking of the visa interview, the topic of whether the other half of the relationship should be present at the interview has been covered on this forum, but it would be worthwhile to have recent experience on that. 

Assuming positive results from the interview, what's the time until the visa is in hand?  Is it realistic to gamble and go down for the interview on a round trip ticket and hope to purchase a one way ticket for her?

Bangkok does not permit the petitioner to attend the interview or enter the building.  This prohibition is posted on their website.  Lets them go to town on the applicant if they are so inclined. Dont gamble. Most websites for consulates state teh standard mantra- make no plans to travel, quit your job, etc  etc etc until you have the visa in hand. .

[Capstone]

For those who have gone through the Visa process, what can you say about that part of it?  Fifteen vaccinations is quite a bit and I'd imagine that would overwhelm the immune system, and so would have to be administered over time. 

All of those 15 vaccinations are age specific - so your wife will not need to get all of them. Most women aged 18-60 only need to have a couple of them done. In my wife's case she only needed 3 - Td, MMR and Varicella.

[Ray]

I don’t think there is any way in hell that she will need 15 vaccinations.

You don’t need specific recorded proof that you had a vaccination. Some are assumed to have been administered. For example, if all school children in a country are given a specific vaccination as a child in school and she attended school in that country.

Some vaccinations leave a distinctive scar, as in Small Pox.

Other vaccinations can be verified by doing immune testing.

The patient will be interviewed about childhood illnesses and vaccinations also.

2-3 vaccinations are typical, as Capstone pointed out.

Ray

[Woody]

Some vaccinations leave a distinctive scar, as in Small Pox.

Yeah, not looking forward to my 2018 repeat of that one... Maybe this time it won't be as bad.

[no comment]

Does anyone know if a government shutdown over the budget impasse will affect Visa processing...... maybe delay interviews at overseas embassies?

[Woody]

My guess would be that the Embassys will remain unaffected, but it would result in the shutdown of the visa processing, therefore no new appointments would be sent. In addition, I doubt that the paperwork would go anywhere after the interview.

It would probably shut down visa processing completely from the end user standpoint. There will probably be stuff going on behind the scenes, but as far as you are concerned, I would proceed as if there will be no processing whatsoever. That said, since the visa stuff is supposed to be self supporting, it might not be affected.


This shutdown will be especially annoying for me since it will likely mean a stop to my GI Bill and VA benefits. Fortunately it will not impact my plans, unless the shutdown lasts till July. That is HIGHLY unlikely, a shutdown of more than a few weeks with no pay to the military would be catastrophic. The fact of the matter is that MOST enlisted are living paycheck to paycheck. Missing one payday will hurt (But, being mid-month, not so bad), missing the end of month pay will be a disaster.

[Researcher]

  Hey NC, here is a link to an article on government shutdowns and immigration.I found it through Visajourney.com.

        http://www.murthy.com/news/n_shutdo.html

[no comment]

Thanks for the link, Researcher.  Wife has an interview scheduled for late May, but that could be delayed. 

"It is anticipated that the consulates will not be open for visa appointments and processing. Thus, depending upon the duration of such an event, individuals could be stranded abroad with no way of obtaining required travel documents."

[Researcher]

   That sucks No Comment. From what I have heard a shutdown is unlikely and if there is one it won't last long. I hope that's right.

     Researcher

[ignorante]

Some vaccinations leave a distinctive scar, as in Small Pox.

  Since this was declared eradicated in 1979, why do they still immunize for it?

[no comment]

AB or anyone else married outside of the US,
Married, filing jointly but the wife is outside of the country and doesn't yet have a SS#.  Just what did you do regarding her SS# & signature on your return?  I got a suggestion from someone who prepares returns that I sign on her behalf and include a note to the IRS explaining the circumstances....

[thekfc]

AB or anyone else married outside of the US,
Married, filing jointly but the wife is outside of the country and doesn't yet have a SS#.  Just what did you do regarding her SS# & signature on your return?  I got a suggestion from someone who prepares returns that I sign on her behalf and include a note to the IRS explaining the circumstances....

What I did was file single & then amended my return when she arrived & got her SS card.

You can do that or the below:
http://www.irs.gov/instructions/iw7/ch01.html#d0e200
http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/fw7.pdf

A little reading:
http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p519.pdf

[Capstone]

AB or anyone else married outside of the US,
Married, filing jointly but the wife is outside of the country and doesn't yet have a SS#.  Just what did you do regarding her SS# & signature on your return?  I got a suggestion from someone who prepares returns that I sign on her behalf and include a note to the IRS explaining the circumstances....

You can file a joint tax return and use an Individual Tax Identification Number (ITIN) for your wife in lieu of a SSN. You get her an ITIN by submitting a W-7 form along with your tax return. I believe the only catch is that you also need to send in a notarized copy of her passport information pages along with the W-7. I know that the embassy & consulates in China will notarize a copy of a foreign passport so hopefully the one in Peru will also.

Another option is that you can always file a return now as Married Filing Separately  and then when your wife enters the US and receives her SSN you can file an amended return as Married Filing Jointly.

[Researcher]

  Yep, notarized copy of passport and We.Make sure she signs the tax return and We.



   Researcher

[Alabamaboy!]

I had to give notarized copy of her passport. And I think the marriage cert, and I believe I threw in her birth cert for good measure. I had to submit all that with the paper tax return. You cannot file electronically when requesting the Individual Tax ID number for her. That application must go with the actual tax return itself. It took about 2 months to receive the notification with her number. I thought it would take longer.

And yes, she needs to personally sign the form requesting the number and also the tax return.

The good news is that my accountant said it saved me thousands of dollars changing my filing status.

[Ray]

AB or anyone else married outside of the US,
Married, filing jointly but the wife is outside of the country and doesn't yet have a SS#.  Just what did you do regarding her SS# & signature on your return?  I got a suggestion from someone who prepares returns that I sign on her behalf and include a note to the IRS explaining the circumstances....

Someone gave you bad advice! I would ignore it.

When is she expected to arrive here in the states? Within 6 months?

Your easiest options are:

1. File now as single, then file an amended return as married/joint later when she is here and has an SSN like kfc suggested.

2. Even easier still, just file for a 6-month extension if you expect her to be here by then, pay any estimated taxes due now, then file your joint return when she gets here and has her SSN. You can work up the forms now and fill in her SSN and signature later when you file. I believe that’s Form 4868 for an automatic extension.

The ITIN thing can be a mess so I didn’t even try it. K.I.S.S.


Ray

[Researcher]

  I would do the ITIN, no sweat.

  Researcher

[Capstone]

Some consulates/embassies will give the beneficiary grief if you are married and file as Single and then use that tax return for support of an I-864. They argue that if it is a bona-fide marriage then you would have filed as Married - either jointly or separately. The consulate in Guangzhou has been known to do this.

[Researcher]

     That's a good point Capstone. I guess it depends on what embassy you have to use and whether or not you want to wait for a tax refund, if you are getting one.


      Researcher

[Alabamaboy!]

Some consulates/embassies will give the beneficiary grief if you are married and file as Single and then use that tax return for support of an I-864. They argue that if it is a bona-fide marriage then you would have filed as Married - either jointly or separately. The consulate in Guangzhou has been known to do this.

That is one of the reasons I wanted to do this as soon as possible. Because I want to show that we are married, that the tax return was filed as such, etc.

[no comment]

Many thanks to everyone for the input.  Looks like I'll have to use one of the 2 options mentioned by KFC & Ray.  There's not enough time to get documents to the wife for a signature.  I've already filed the affidavit of support documents and submitted tax returns from previous years, so I won't worry about filing as single if I use that option.

Alabamaboy, I mentioned you in the inquiry because I know that you've got the same circumstances as I: married to a non resident alien in 2010, with the wife not becoming a resident during that year.  Did you file as "married filing separately"?

If the election (to file a joint return) is not made, you may be able to claim your nonresident alien spouse as an exemption on a return filed as married filing separately, but only if the spouse had no income and could not be claimed as a dependent by another taxpayer.  quote from the J.K. Lasser's tax guide

Is there any other advantage to filing as married other than the extra exemption?