So many questions it is hard to know where to start. Seems like every time I research the subject of obtaining an Immigration Visa for my Korean-citizen wife, I find new and worrisome info....

Here's the bio: I am a US citizen, and my wife is Korean. We met and started dating over a decade ago, then lived in different countries, dating off and on over the years. We decided to change that, and I took a leave from my job to go to Korea to get married. We were married just over a year ago and have resided in Korea for a bit longer than that. I am a professor at a university in California and I've been doing a "visiting professorship" in Korea while on leave. I have no current residence in the US (was renting, and we will again until we find a good place to buy). We are filing at the US Embassy in Seoul, and our I-130 has been approved.

My questions:

Income and domecile... do we have enough to satisfy income and domecile requirements or will we need to do more?

Have's--
--I have a letter from the director of my university department in the US confirming that I have been on "leave" for a visiting professorship and will return to my job upon completion of the term of the visit. I am, of course, required to live near my employer in order to fullfill employment.
--I also have a letter from my university in Korea stating that I am only employed for a one year period, as a visiting professor.
--My salary in the US is sufficient, and I am "expected to continue" in their employment "subject to successful performance evaluations."
--I have a US bank account, a retirement fund, an account at a brokerage, etc.)

Have not's--
-- I do not have a house or a long term lease in the area where we will reside in california. I rented in the past and we will rent when we return.

Tax returns...
-- I have my current tax returns, and I have seen nothing in the E-Packet 3 indicating that I need anything else. Do I need tax returns from the prior 3 years as has been mentioned on this forum?


Canadian Police Records:
--My wife lived in Canada for around 5 years. I assume she needs the police records from Canada. She has no criminal record... does she need the "fingerprint" version or will the "countrywide name search" satisfy? Anyone know how to get these records? How long will it take?


If you have any other helpful tips or warnings, we would be most grateful.

Thanks for all your help... this is a great site. Wish I found you months ago!

I see that the certified "fingerprint" version of the police report will take ages... 3-9 months.

Does anyone know if my wife can fly to Canada for a quick visit to pick up the "country wide" name and ID criminal record? Those seem to take little more than an visit to the police office, or RCMP. Can she bring that back to Korea to satisfy the police report requirement?

3-9 months is

Indeed she can. If there is no criminal record, the police certificate can be obtained quite expeditiously.- As long as it is nation wide and it says so.

As per the rest of your documents, you are a-o-k. Should be a breeze. Tax returns: you used to only need one and have the option of providing the previous 2. Not sure if the rules have changed.- In any case, the IRS can provide you with transcripts-- I guess you can have them faxed somewhere in the US and then couriered to you?

Good luck colleague, L.