Holy cow, where do I even start???

[Celotaja 0]

Ok, I'm sure there are newbies like me posting these same questions over and over again... but I am SO overwhelmed right now!

The long and short of my situation:

I am US citizen. Husband is Australian.

Met my husband in 2006 when we were both living in Latvia.

Moved in together in 2007.

Engaged in 2008.

Moved to Angola together.

Married in 2009 in PV, Mexico.

First child born in the States in 2010.

Moved to Laos together in Aug 2011.

Second child born in the States in 2012.

We are now still living in Laos, but would like to move back to the States. Husband is a teacher, and has been employed the whole time we've been together at different international schools every place we've lived. I worked in Latvia and Angola, but stopped work officially in June 2010 after our daughter was born. I have been a stay at home mom since then, with my husband financially supporting us (I feel like this is going to be a problem for the financial support thing!). Ultimately, we would love to be able to continue things as they are now (him working, me at home with the kids)- but that just isn't going to happen if we go back to the States, is it?

So I can't even understand if we can work with the Consulate here in Laos on any of this, or if we have to process through the Chicago lockbox. We are at the VERY beginning of this whole process- haven't started anything, because honestly, I felt like I sort of had figured out where to start, but now I am not so sure!

In any case, I definitely appreciate any help or points in the right direction from anyone!

Thanks,

Mara

[Douglas Custodio 7]

We are now still living in Laos, but would like to move back to the States. Husband is a teacher, and has been employed the whole time we've been together at different international schools every place we've lived. I worked in Latvia and Angola, but stopped work officially in June 2010 after our daughter was born. I have been a stay at home mom since then, with my husband financially supporting us (I feel like this is going to be a problem for the financial support thing!). Ultimately, we would love to be able to continue things as they are now (him working, me at home with the kids)- but that just isn't going to happen if we go back to the States, is it?

So I can't even understand if we can work with the Consulate here in Laos on any of this, or if we have to process through the Chicago lockbox. We are at the VERY beginning of this whole process- haven't started anything, because honestly, I felt like I sort of had figured out where to start, but now I am not so sure!

In any case, I definitely appreciate any help or points in the right direction from anyone!

Thanks,

Mara

With financial support you can find a joint-sponsor for you when you get to the NVC part of the process. You not working won't be a problem, but you will be his sponsor anyway (even not having any kind of income) so you will need to prove to the NVC that you are willing to reestablish domicile in the US. They say that buying a house, enrolling children in US schools are good signs you're willing to come back.

I don't know if Laos has a local USCIS office , if it doesn't you will have to start the process through Chicago Lockbox. That's what we did from Brazil.

[Penguin_ie 6,005]

You cannot file directly with the embassy in Laos, the I-130 petition will need to be sent to the Chicago Lockbox. However, as you both live abroad the case will be auto-expedited and should only take a few months.

The financial support will be an issue, as foreign income does not count. Your options are:

- you move back to the USA first and start work

- You sponsor him on assets; savings, property etc, preferably US based. Need three times as much as income for your household of 4, so about $84'000.

- You find a US citizen or grencard holder living in the USA willing to be a joint sponsor, ie stand guarantoor for your husband; maybe your parents or a close friend.

As to you staying home and your husband working, well that depends on your circumstances- many families in the USA feel they cannot survive on one salary, but many can, especially outside of the big cities. With the CR-1 spousal visa, your husband will be able to work as soon as he arrives in the USA, but of course finding a job may be hard, and depending on his teaching qualification, he may need some conversion course/ extra study here.

[Celotaja 0]

So as far as starting the process, is it really as simple as the I-130, and all its requirements, and just going from there?

Ah, and of course, I understand that the stay at home mom thing depends on our financial circumstances, but, I was more wondering about whether or not he would be able to work right away. We've just signed on for one more year of work in Laos, so we have time to get through this process, and then look for jobs back home. But I was wondering whether or not he would be able to work right away. Thanks. It seems we will probably have to go the joint-sponsor route, because the other two are just not options.

You cannot file directly with the embassy in Laos, the I-130 petition will need to be sent to the Chicago Lockbox. However, as you both live abroad the case will be auto-expedited and should only take a few months.

The financial support will be an issue, as foreign income does not count. Your options are:

- you move back to the USA first and start work

- You sponsor him on assets; savings, property etc, preferably US based. Need three times as much as income for your household of 4, so about $84'000.

- You find a US citizen or grencard holder living in the USA willing to be a joint sponsor, ie stand guarantoor for your husband; maybe your parents or a close friend.

As to you staying home and your husband working, well that depends on your circumstances- many families in the USA feel they cannot survive on one salary, but many can, especially outside of the big cities. With the CR-1 spousal visa, your husband will be able to work as soon as he arrives in the USA, but of course finding a job may be hard, and depending on his teaching qualification, he may need some conversion course/ extra study here.

Edited October 16, 2012 by Celotaja

[Celotaja 0]

Oh! I just found this posted in another thread (http://www.visajourney.com/content/i130guide1). That looks like what I need to answer most of my questions!

[Penguin_ie 6,005]

Yep- the process is not difficult really, just lots of paperwork.

He can work right away, but most employers will want to see a SSN, which takes 2-4 weeks to get. Once he has the visa, he will need to use it within 6 months, so if your employment contract runs out in one year from now, I would recommend filing in about 6 months.

[Celotaja 0]

Yep- the process is not difficult really, just lots of paperwork.

He can work right away, but most employers will want to see a SSN, which takes 2-4 weeks to get. Once he has the visa, he will need to use it within 6 months, so if your employment contract runs out in one year from now, I would recommend filing in about 6 months.

Good to know!! We will definitely delay then, as we will be in Laos until June 2014 (end of school year).

[VanessaTony 3,567]

Good to know!! We will definitely delay then, as we will be in Laos until June 2014 (end of school year).

He could also "use it" to enter the US to activate it, and turn back around and go back to Laos (or stay a week or 2 and apply for his SSN... he's supposed to get it automatically but sometimes it doesn't work out).

Personally i would do it that way if financially viable. That way he has the GC stamp in his passport and he has the SSN in the works. That way he can start applying for jobs in the US before your contract in Laos is up, and he can start work asap. (i.e. He can go straight to a job in the US after the contract ending at Laos, as opposed to waiting for the SSN etc meaning that he wouldn't have them in time to apply before the new school year).

Edited October 17, 2012 by Vanessa&Tony