... in response to Re: What questions?, posted by pack on Jun 17, 2002Well, there won't be any additional cost as far as the
embassy is concerned. Your novia has a fee for the
interview, and the kids are permitted entrance on her
visa. At least that's the way it is for a fiancee visa; a
spouse visa is no doubt the same. The kids will not be
present at the interview, and there is no additional cost
for the visa. You've already named them on the I-129F,
so the embassy will have that info after INS sends it.
Medical. Whatever your novia needs plus the same for
each kid. The child will need his or her own physical
exam plus shots.
Police report. I don't know if local police will charge a
fee for this. Unless the kids are old enough to have had
the possibility of acquiring a rap sheet, there shouldn't
be an additional report required.
If they're in school, don't forget to get their school
records, and remember that you might have to get them
translated before the schools here can transcribe
them.
Speaking of school, make sure you check with the
school district to inquire about ESL classes or
opportunities for the kids to learn English. I have had
the kiddos enrolled in a South American english
course for awareness and whatever language training
they could get, and they've learned quite a bit. However,
they will need quite a bit of work before they will be
ready for school.
Aside from the additional physical exam, it's only
airfare. I know that American offers a lower price for
kids under the age of 8 (that saved me a couple of
hundred).
By the way, check the travel websites first to get the
price both one-way and round trip. In my case, round
trip was cheaper (I'll bank the difference and use it
sometime over the course of the next year). AA told me
that if they know (because you tell them) that you're only
going one-way they are supposed to sell it to you, even
though round trip may be cheaper. So don't tell them.
Aside from airfare, medical and incidentals, there really
shouldn't be too much in the way of additional costs. In
my case it means buying extra luggage, but other than
that there wasn't anything else I had to be concerned
with.
As far as a website or guidebook, I got a lot of info from
hervisa.com. Also, click on the Univision website;
there's always some general immigration info which is
helpful. Check also foreignborn.com
I am curious, though, to know if you experienced
anything unique with courting a woman who had kids
as opposed to someone who didn't. Did she have a
different outlook, did other women regard her
differently, what were her concerns that she might not
have had if she were not a mom?
