Processing green card petition with US citizen spouse living in Nigeria

[summerdays 2]

Hello Guys,

 

Thanks so much for all your help so far. I was wondering if there is any one here who has gone through processing a green card petition in the Nigerian Embassy with the US citizen spouse living in Nigeria. Please kindly share your experience with how you went about the process of if your USC spouse had to go back to the US.

 

Regards

[dwheels76 5,461]

3 hours ago, summerdays said:

Hello Guys,

 

Thanks so much for all your help so far. I was wondering if there is any one here who has gone through processing a green card petition in the Nigerian Embassy with the US citizen spouse living in Nigeria. Please kindly share your experience with how you went about the process of if your USC spouse had to go back to the US.

 

Regards

There isn't Direct Filing (DCF) for Nigeria. You would have to send your petition package to Chicago lockbox. I lived with my husband in Nigeria during the process after he was approved at USCIS.

 

Same process as if you the USC lived in US.

[summerdays 2]

3 hours ago, dwheels76 said:

There isn't Direct Filing (DCF) for Nigeria. You would have to send your petition package to Chicago lockbox. I lived with my husband in Nigeria during the process after he was approved at USCIS.

 

Same process as if you the USC lived in US.

 

Thank you so much for responding. What documentation did you provide to prove US domicile or did you work with an America firm in Nigeria? Im a bit worried because my husband has lived in Nigeria all his life, although he has kept ties with the US. He votes in elections and has a valid US drivers license and bank account. Just hoping this will be enough to prove domicile. 

[Ryan H 3,790]

Moved from IR-1/CR-1 Process & Procedures to Africa: Sub-Saharan regional forum; OP is asking for Nigeria specific experiences.

[dwheels76 5,461]

On ‎1‎/‎10‎/‎2017 at 2:07 PM, summerdays said:

 

Thank you so much for responding. What documentation did you provide to prove US domicile or did you work with an America firm in Nigeria? Im a bit worried because my husband has lived in Nigeria all his life, although he has kept ties with the US. He votes in elections and has a valid US drivers license and bank account. Just hoping this will be enough to prove domicile. 

Well he is required as a US citizen to file his taxes. He would have needed to file the last 3 years.

 

Here is a explanation of how to either maintain domicile or establish. Since he has no ties really you may have an issue. He needs to probably move to US ahead of you and get things started. Job, school, bank, etc.

 

Domicile

Please note, if the petitioner lives with the beneficiary abroad, you'll need to provide proof of US domicile with the AOS package, as well as bring it with you to the interview. Please read the I-864 instructions (pages 3 and 4) for information about it. This is NOT needed if the petitioner is living in the US. Here is a sample cover letter to include in the package (it lists MANY possible documents, some may not be applicable, of course, to prove that you have, or will re-establish, domicile in the US):

NAME

SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER

Form I-864

Part 4, Question 5: Country of Domicile

I, XXXX, am currently residing in FOREIGN COUNTRY with my spouse, SPOUSE'S NAME. Below you will find a list of attached documents to show that my principal residence is in the US and the steps that I have taken to return to the US with my family.

Steps I have taken to maintain US Domicile:

• Maintained my XXXX voter registration

• Maintained my XXXX credit card registered in the US with a US PO box

• Maintained my bank account at the XXXX Credit Union

• Maintained my bank account at XXXX Bank

• Maintained my XXXX drivers license

• Maintained my US retirement fund through XXXX

• Maintained my US investment account with XXXX

• Maintained my US PO box

• Maintained licensure by the XXXX

• Maintained membership in the XXXX

• Maintained my automobile in care of my parents

Supporting Documents for the above steps I have taken:

• Voter registration card showing permanent US address

• XXXX credit card statement showing US billing address

• XXXX Credit Union statement showing permanent US address

• XXXX Bank statement showing permanent US address

• XXXX drivers license showing permanent US address

• Retirement fund statement showing permanent US address

• Mutual fund statement showing permanent US address

• XXXX license currently up to date

• Renewal of XXXX membership

• County tax bill showing I still own a vehicle

Steps I have taken to return to the US to take up residence:

• Made arrangements for us to have a house to live in

• Contacted schools for requirements of things to bring to register my children in school

• Contacted my auto insurance company to find out about re-instating my insurance on my car

• Contacted shipping company for estimate of costs to ship belongings

Supporting documents for the above steps I have taken:

• Lease agreement for our house

• Email from schools regarding registration requirements

• Email from my former auto insurance company regarding my inquiry

• Email from XXXX with estimate and correspondence regarding shipping our belongings

I declare that I intend in good faith to re-establish my domicile in the United States no later than the date of spouse's admission into the US.

I certify under penalty of perjury under the laws of the United States that the statements in this letter and all accompanying evidence are true and correct.

Signature: ____________________________________________________ Date: ______________________

[summerdays 2]

14 hours ago, dwheels76 said:

Well he is required as a US citizen to file his taxes. He would have needed to file the last 3 years.

 

Here is a explanation of how to either maintain domicile or establish. Since he has no ties really you may have an issue. He needs to probably move to US ahead of you and get things started. Job, school, bank, etc.

 

Domicile

Please note, if the petitioner lives with the beneficiary abroad, you'll need to provide proof of US domicile with the AOS package, as well as bring it with you to the interview. Please read the I-864 instructions (pages 3 and 4) for information about it. This is NOT needed if the petitioner is living in the US. Here is a sample cover letter to include in the package (it lists MANY possible documents, some may not be applicable, of course, to prove that you have, or will re-establish, domicile in the US):

NAME

SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER

Form I-864

Part 4, Question 5: Country of Domicile

I, XXXX, am currently residing in FOREIGN COUNTRY with my spouse, SPOUSE'S NAME. Below you will find a list of attached documents to show that my principal residence is in the US and the steps that I have taken to return to the US with my family.

Steps I have taken to maintain US Domicile:

• Maintained my XXXX voter registration

• Maintained my XXXX credit card registered in the US with a US PO box

• Maintained my bank account at the XXXX Credit Union

• Maintained my bank account at XXXX Bank

• Maintained my XXXX drivers license

• Maintained my US retirement fund through XXXX

• Maintained my US investment account with XXXX

• Maintained my US PO box

• Maintained licensure by the XXXX

• Maintained membership in the XXXX

• Maintained my automobile in care of my parents

Supporting Documents for the above steps I have taken:

• Voter registration card showing permanent US address

• XXXX credit card statement showing US billing address

• XXXX Credit Union statement showing permanent US address

• XXXX Bank statement showing permanent US address

• XXXX drivers license showing permanent US address

• Retirement fund statement showing permanent US address

• Mutual fund statement showing permanent US address

• XXXX license currently up to date

• Renewal of XXXX membership

• County tax bill showing I still own a vehicle

Steps I have taken to return to the US to take up residence:

• Made arrangements for us to have a house to live in

• Contacted schools for requirements of things to bring to register my children in school

• Contacted my auto insurance company to find out about re-instating my insurance on my car

• Contacted shipping company for estimate of costs to ship belongings

Supporting documents for the above steps I have taken:

• Lease agreement for our house

• Email from schools regarding registration requirements

• Email from my former auto insurance company regarding my inquiry

• Email from XXXX with estimate and correspondence regarding shipping our belongings

I declare that I intend in good faith to re-establish my domicile in the United States no later than the date of spouse's admission into the US.

I certify under penalty of perjury under the laws of the United States that the statements in this letter and all accompanying evidence are true and correct.

Signature: ____________________________________________________ Date: ______________________

Thanks for your response. That is very helpful. He has filed taxes. He has a bank account, US credit card, valid drivers license, voters card, social security card. Hoping that will be enough. He recently quit his job and has been looking for jobs online