Is It Possible to Live Abroad?

[llaz 232]

I need to speak with my fiancee, however, I am trying to think about what's the best way to go through all this so that we have the least time away from each other. But with the CR1 visa it just seems longer and it seems that you cannot live abroad with this visa as well.

How does one live abroad and file for a CR1? Do most CR1 applicants leave their spouses in their respective countries and then come to the US in order to fill out paperwork?

Is there a way to be living abroad and do the CR1 application? I know about the Affidavit of Support and thats what really concerns me is the required domicile in the US. Is that requirement before your spouse comes to the United States or do you prove that this is what you want for the future (when you are approved)?

Edited September 24, 2016 by llaz

[JFH 12,189]

Yes it is possible fir the US citizen to file whilst living abroad. It happens in some cases. The rest of us live with the separation for many months. It's not easy but most of us have no other option.

You can send all the documents from abroad. The only thing you need to do differently is demonstrate your intent to re-establish domicile. Other than that, the procedure is the same.

Are you no longer doing a K-1?

[Jawaree 717]

USC can petition spouse if thy are permanent resident in spouse or other country that they can file DCF

they will likely need a co-sponsor for affidavit, prove domicile (bank acct, drivers lic, a lease, and US job offer)

the lease can be from friend or parent you'll both live with, if away from the US a long time make a trip to

organize things if you can file DCF, if not return home and apply for spouse , prepare for the arrival about 12-13

mths later

[llaz 232]

Yes it is possible fir the US citizen to file whilst living abroad. It happens in some cases. The rest of us live with the separation for many months. It's not easy but most of us have no other option.

You can send all the documents from abroad. The only thing you need to do differently is demonstrate your intent to re-establish domicile. Other than that, the procedure is the same.

Are you no longer doing a K-1?

I don't know yet, I want to do the K1 but I've heard a lot of other people from my state coming forward saying that yes they got denied for not waiting the waiting period for our state and then sending the k1 packet. I don't want to wait for 6 months and then send this packet.

[llaz 232]

USC can petition spouse if thy are permanent resident in spouse or other country that they can file DCF

they will likely need a co-sponsor for affidavit, prove domicile (bank acct, drivers lic, a lease, and US job offer)

the lease can be from friend or parent you'll both live with, if away from the US a long time make a trip to

organize things if you can file DCF, if not return home and apply for spouse , prepare for the arrival about 12-13

mths later

Thank you, so all of those things to prove domicile are needed? I just worry about the job offer. I mean I probably could get an offer from my friends restaurant and work there for whatever time needed until I can get a job in my field, but do they look at that as a "real job"?

[Groogrux108 14]

When you start the NVC stage you will need to prove intent to re-establish domicile. I recommend this thread: http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/164618-proving-domicile-when-not-living-in-the-us/page-1 make sure you read through all of it. From what I heard the Montreal embassy is one of the most rigorous in this aspect (domicile) so if you can aim for what these people are doing it should be easier to get approval from the Chilean embassy.

I traveled recently to the US on vacation and opened a bank account in the city we plan to live in. I also have housing arrangements with a friend and I have a job offer. Besides this I am also sending in proof that I just vaccated the apartment we lived in and sold our other apartment. We are currently living with her mother. There is a couple other things I plan to throw in my package as evidence.

Remember that, if you haven't, you will likely have to file taxes with the IRS even though you are living abroad, I used an online accounting firm specialized in expats (very costly though).

So here is what I think you should do (I'm still in the middle of the process, so take this with a grain of salt): hurry up and send out your I-130 package (my approval took nearly 6 months), in the meantime take care of your taxes if you haven't (start as soon as possible the process will take several months). Then start looking for ways to prove your intent to reestablish domicile.

You will probably need a joint sponsor too.