I have just mailed out I864 package and IV bill to NVC. Now I'm preparing DS230, but I stumbled over questions 13 and 21a.

Question 13 asks for my "present address." I'm the beneficiary of our immigrant petition, but I've been legally living and working in the US since 9 years ago. Should I put my current US address or my parents address in Armenia, where I'm planning to fly for an interview?

Questions 21a asks whether anyone will accompany me to the US. Well, my wife (US citizen petitioner) will probably fly with me to Armenia for an interview, should I mention that she's going to "accompany" me back to the States?

I will greatly appreciate everyone's comments and suggestions.

For question 13 the present address is that of the beneficiary, the immigrant fiance, not the US citizen.

For question 21a this is for any children of the immigrant fiance.

I am the beneficiary (the intending immigrant), but I live and work in the US on H1B work visa.



21a asks if anyone who is mentioned in 14-19 which includes the spouse, parents, and children (if any). I understand that they probably would like to know if anyone would be immigrating along with me. But the questions uses the word "accompany." I don't want to be turned away in the consulate just because I did not mention that my wife is going to fly with me.

Again question 13 should be your home address out side of USA since you were living here temporarly.

Also question 21a is only for children or dependents (non US citizens imigrating with you) if none write none.

This is what is writen in the law guide I use, and also the guides on this site.

Thanks, it all makes sense. I just hate the wording on the form.

No problem!

Also line 14, you also put none, because your spouse is a US citizen, and that line is for an immigrant spouse.

Consider this form is used for many purposes.

Good luck!

Wow! Are you sure? Q14 just asks for the name and address of my spouse, it doesn't imply anything about her applying for a visa. Following that logic I have to put "none" for the parents too because they are not immigrating with me.

Q14: You have to write your wife's name, address, profession there. You can not write "NONE," since you have a wife. And of course, you need to provide info about your parents too on DS 230. Line 14 is not only for non US Citizen, but also for US Citizen spouse.

Question 13: You should put your US address, since you have been working and living in the USA for a while and your present US address is your current address. However, you may write a note about your address in your native country. What address did you put on I-130? Make sure, you take a look at that address as well.

Question 21a: It is asking for anyone (spouse, children) who will travel with you as IMMIGRANTS. So it won't apply to your wife, since she is a US citizen. You write "NONE."

Thanks for your advice.

I-130 and G-325a are much clearer about addresses. They have a field "address" and another field "applicant's (beneficiary's) address outside the US."

It would have been clear with DS230 if they used a word "permanent" instead of "present" in Q13.

I have seriously got to ask here. Why are you applying for an immigrant visa when you have been living and working legally in the US for 9 years and could of just adjusted status?

13) Present address is present address. If this is your place of residence whether in the US or foreign country, that is what you put.
14) As you are the visa applicant and completing the form, the question is asking for your spouse's name (USC), do not put 'None'
21a) Only list anyone that is or will be immigrating with you.

It's a good question, and we seriously thought about our options before deciding to proceed with consular processing. The Adjustment of Status process has much less predictable timeline (anywhere from 1 year to x years). USCIS adjudicating officers are usually undereducated unpleasant people, and they frequently subject AOS applicants to unnecessary unpleasant interviews just because they can to do that.

The consular processing takes about 2 months at NVC (if we don't get RFEs). Consular officers are usually well paid intelligent people who rarely humiliate immigrant visa applicants for no reason.

Understood and very true in the most part, but one also runs the chance of being put on AR/AP which can add time before the issuance of a visa. Im not sure I would agree with the statement that 'Consular officers are usually well paid intelligent people who rarely humiliate immigrant visa applicants for no reason,' as an interview in some countries has been borne out to be very gruelling for many applicants.

Thanks for explaining your choice and wish you all the best with gaining your visa

legolas, I agree with simple_male and hope that you will research this to your further satisfaction. I think there is some misinformation posted in this thread.

legolas,

Your present address is hardly in Armenia if you've been living in the USA for 9 years. 'present' means 'now', and right now you are living in - not visiting - the USA.

As aussiewench and simple_male pointed out, when the form asks about people who will accompany you they mean accompany as an immigrant, not accompany physically.

And as they also pointed out, you are married so do not write 'none' when asked for information about your spouse.

Yodrak