How should we answer question DS-230 question 21a, "who will accompany you to the U.S. now". Since we are not even sure what our plans will be, I do not know if I will accompany my wife to the U.S. or go before her. In this case, what is the best thing to put: my name or None?

Thanks,
John

It would be helpful if you filled out your timeline so I could answer this question better. Have you sent off the I-130? Has it been approved? Have you received packet 3? When do you think you would like to be back in the US by?

Hi,

Well, we are waiting on some final documents before we can submit the I-130. Specifically my wife is renewing her passport, and it should arrive in 1-2 weeks.

I don't know how other consulates do it, but the Tokyo consulate requires most documents to be submitted with the I-130 application (at least their website says so). So, we have to submit the DS-230, I-864, G325A all at the same time we submit the I-130. That is why it is so hard to know what to put.

http://tokyo.usembassy.gov/e/visa/tvisa-ivi130check.html

Our timeline is to try schedule the I-130 interview sometime in early to mid-April. I don't know how long the process would take, but hopefully the I-130 at least will be approved by June. We would like to arrive in the U.S. in August, or as soon after August as the visa is approved.

Thanks for your help,
John

John, DS 230, question 21a is actually asking, if anyone immigrating (children) with the visa applicant. If she has kids and they will accompany her, you need to write kids' names. If not, then answer is "None," even if you (the US Citizen) accompany her to USA.

The DS-230 doesn't have to be completed and submitted until after the I-130 is approved and you have decided on informing the embassy when you would like your interview. By then, you should have a better idea of what is going on. If not, then just inform the embassy at that time and ask them for further assistance with answering the question.

For Japan all the forms are submitted at the same time, on the first visit to the embassy, the I-130, the DS-230, the I-864, the G325A. Everything.

To the best of my understanding, you would be included in this if you are going with her back to the states. It's not just for children. It states, "persons named in item 14 and 19" Item 14 is you. As you don't know yet, I don't know what to say. Maybe include a letter of explanation....that seems to be the recommended advice for any snags.

You might want to make your first appointment at the embassy soon if you haven't already. I booked mine last month hoping for mid march(about 1 month in advance) and the earliest opportunity was early April. Just a heads up.

Hi,

Thanks for all the replies.

As jtnihon said, at the Tokyo consulate, all of the documents are required at the initial I-130 interview, so it makes some things a bit more difficult.

Also, question 21a does say people included on lines 14-19, which includes, me the spouse. So, it's hard to know so far in advance whether I will be accompanying my wife or not. Ideally, we will go together, but if the process takes so much time that I have to go first (mainly dependent on my job situation), I will have to go first.

I will probably take jtnihon's advice and make a note and add an attachment explaining the situation.

jtnihon: Thanks for the heads up about the interview scheduling. Even though we are a little nervous since my wife hasn't got her passport yet (we were told it would take no more than 2 more weeks, but we all know how things can get delayed), we went ahead and scheduled the interview for April 23rd. There was actually one opening at the beginning of April, but we decided it was too risky.

John