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So, I checked our case status this morning for the family-based I-485 application for AOS. It showed a processing time of 3 months and I was excited because we are on step 3 (interview). An hour later, we got an email and upon reviewing the update I see we have an RFE. Evidently, USCIS says I cannot sponsor my wife because I do not make 125% of the poverty level for our family size. I make about double that (233%). The error likely comes from the fact that my IRS papers say $0 due to my income being non-taxable. I sent income verification letters from the VA and SSA as well as bank statements showing that I make about $70k a year in non-taxable income. Additionally, our attorney sent them a letter with the initial filing saying the same. He told us that we would dispute it but I will most likely need a co-sponsor. I do not have one as I have no family or friends and shouldn't need one simply because someone at USCIS is unable to read or comprehend the reality of the situation. I am beyond angry as this will substantially delay our case and we cannot afford the delay.

We sold our car to a Toyota dealership in Idaho yesterday!!! 🥳 We were very clear about the importation situation, and it took a while to make it clear that we didn't have a separate piece of paper called “title” as American cars do, but they bought it for even more money than my husband had been promised as a “Kelly blue book offer” in Canada, and we traded it in for an American car. Problem solved! I'm mentioning it in case anybody has the same issue. It cost us a bit, but less than we expected, and at this stage, we just wanted to get it over with. It would be nice, but no. I think it's the same thing as someone who is already in the US having to go back to the border to renew their visa (at least, that's how it works in Canada, I think). You can't have your car already in the US if you're trying to import it, and an airport parking lot is “already in the US”. Here's the thread we had found on this topic—some people have luck with the after-market TPMS system, but it appears most people don't: —

Has anyone ever tried to request Direct Consular Filing through Montreal? I just emailed them today to ask if they would consider our situation and attached a bunch or supporting documentation.

Here is an update for anyone that has a visa / passport stuck at the consulate and they must travel. You can get a temporary passport. Cost is about $200 CAD. Be prepared to spend many hours at the passport office and also be prepared for the staff there not knowing what you're talking about. You'll need to be polite but push for what is allowed to get the temp passport and when you get your original back with the visa in it to do a exchange, where the original passport with the visa in it is activated again (only one passport can be active at a time) and surrender the temp passport. Ask for a temporary passport application, because your current passport is "Inaccessible" (official term is Inaccessible Passport) You can get a temp passport if you prove your current passport is stuck at a foreign consulate for processing AND you must travel Show proof of your passport being stuck in processing with the consulate and also proof that you have corresponded with them about the delays. Show proof of upcoming travel Bring an original birth certificate and proof of your identity Fill-out an application for a temporary passport (might be the same as a regular passport, but make sure they file it properly) Provide a guarantor (my wife used her adult daughter that is not living with her). The agent will call. Provide 2 references that are friends that can vouch for you. The agent will call them. If travel is urgent, the passport can be made within a couple of days, so show proof that you must pick it up in time for travel. Once you pick-up the temp passport, make sure there is a stamp/sticker inside that shows that it is a temp passport (the cover won't say it). I heard the temp passport is good for one year, not just for this specific travel date. When you arrive at the border, bring your proof of travel, proof of needing the temp passport, and of course your temp passport. In our case, the USA agent didn't ask for anything other than the passport and didn't say anything or ask about it, but that's no guarantee. When you finally receive your original passport with the visa, go to the passport office again Request that you need to surrender your temp passport and have the original activated again. You cannot carry two passports (from what we were told), so you need to activate one and surrender the other. You might need to push that you're not applying for anything new and all the agent needs to do is accept your temp passport and activate the original. My wife had to push a little about the urgency of this swap, because the initial staff wanted her to wait in the long application line all day. This wasn't necessary. My wife stood with the agent while the original was being activated again on the screen. It takes about 30 minutes for the system to process the swap, but it will be fairly quick (not hours or days).

Got DQ today and now thinking about everything that's about to transpire in the next few months. Any recommendations on how to get my stuff from Canada to USA?

Hello, Our case got DQd on June 29th, 2022 and we are currently waiting for an email regarding next steps. In addition to the DQ notice, we received a review note that stated the following: "This case does not meet the minimum income requirement to sponsor the intending immigrants. To avoid delays, an additional Affidavit of Support Form I-864 from a joint sponsor may be submitted. The consular officer will make a decision regarding this requirement at the time of the interview." My wife had just graduated University and started her first job at the time of this sponsorship process and so her tax documents at the time I guess did not satisfy the minimum income requirements. As we went along the process, she got a new job and has been there for almost a year and we uploaded documents showing her current salary which more than meets the requirements. I didn't think we needed to have a joint sponsor because of this. Now that this note is on our file, we have a joint sponsor and we have completed the AOS form and gathered the financial documents to support it. In terms of uploading this on to CEAC, is there a specific way this must be done? Firstly because this is a joint sponsor and secondly because NVC has already accepted our previous documents and have stated we are documentary qualified. So I'm wondering if we just upload as normal or do something differently. It even says "an additional Affidavit of Support Form I-864 from a joint sponsor may be submitted". I would like to do so anyways to avoid any further conflicts, delays, or issues. Secondly, at the time of me submitting my civil documents, my passport was not expired. It expired throughout the process. I have renewed my passport and have both my old and new ones with me. Should I be uploading the new one on to CEAC or is this not necessary? I'm assuming I should still bring both to the interview? Thank you for the help and feedback!

Just checking. Am I able to cross, activate my visa and then travel back to Canada a few times to pack up and move? I don’t intend to import my car but will use it for a couple months to travel while I get settled.