BINATIONAL SAME SEX COUPLES !! Show up!

[Blably 0]

NB: my husband is the USC by birth.

Blably.

[Davesings 30]

Please I need help as I am a novice when it comes to immigration terms, and my husband and I cannot afford a lawyer at this time.

I am on F-1 Visa and it expires in the middle of next year. although I plan to get my F1- opt before my phd career. My same sex partner and I got married last 3 month and he has been hitting on him filing now. But I am scared I might get denied because we stay in different states due to my studies. Although we have a joint account he does not have a medical insurance but as an international student it is mandatory i pay for my medical insurance. Also the school told me I won't be able to jointly file tax with my spouse. We had a new hyphenated last name but i am yet to change it since it will take a long process because i am still in school. Do you think We should start the process now . And Yes my spouse makes the required amount to file for me.

I'd appreciate a reply or a link where I can find help.

As far as I understand it, you have every right to file for your green card since you are married. I don't think you have to be living together as long as you can prove your relationship adequately.

According to our timeline on VJ, we should expect our NOA2 between Oct 1-12! I hope they are right!

[Blably 0]

Thanks for the response. Please what advise can you give to me on how to start the process?

[Sukie 1,440]

Thanks for the response. Please what advise can you give to me on how to start the process?

Go to the Guide section here on VJ and read up on the IR-1/CR-1 visa and Adjustment of Status. Your partner will have to file the I-130, and you will have to file the AoS documentation.

It is important that you start gathering data to show that your relationship is bonafide, meaning documentation showing that you are and have been a couple for a while. This will be important since you are not currently cohabitating.

I would have thought (any tax folks here?) you could file your US Federal taxes jointly, but probably not state taxes jointly since you don't live in the same state (did I make that up?). You might need to seek some tax advice - especially your partner - because it might really benefit him to file Married, Filing Jointly if he is working and you are not.

Also go to www.irs.gov and type in ITIN in the search box. Foreign nationals who do not qualify for a Social Security Number must have an ITIN in order to file jointly with a spouse.

Because you are married, the Feds expect you to file as either Married, Filing Jointly or Married, Filing Separately. My tax preparer said that I no longer have the option to file Single - even though my spouse has no US income. We are going through the ITIN process now.

VJ has loads of information to get you started. Some of it can be hard to understand, but download and read the applicable forms, and search for specific answers to your specific questions in the forums.

Good luck, and congrats on your marriage!

Sukie

Thanks for the response. Please what advise can you give to me on how to start the process?

Hopefully New Jersey Governor Chris Christie will not be able to win an appeal to overturn the judge's ruling in the New Jersey Marriage Equality case!!!

That should help you too!

Sukie

[Blably 0]

Thanks guys, I ( having a SSN) work with the school and I get paid as a Graduate assistant. I don't know why the school said I can't. Secondly, we have traveling documents that showed we visited each other. He was with me for the first quarter of this year. Before he moved back. As I don't have family members here we have only pictures of us at the marriage ceremony. You guys are really motivating me. I appreciate, We once thought we were all alone.

[Susan53011 14]

Finally after 5 1/2 weeks of waiting since we received our NAO2 my application is now at the NVC and soon will be on its way to vancouver. Hoping things move much faster now

[Blably 0]

Congrats!

[Sukie 1,440]

Finally after 5 1/2 weeks of waiting since we received our NAO2 my application is now at the NVC and soon will be on its way to vancouver. Hoping things move much faster now

Congratulations! Wish the I-130s were moving faster!

Sukie

[FulanoDeTal 19]

Finally after 5 1/2 weeks of waiting since we received our NAO2 my application is now at the NVC and soon will be on its way to vancouver. Hoping things move much faster now

Susan,

Congratulations, that's great news! I hope things begin to move more quickly for you now!

[BlackBird.91 0]

My USC spouse has just moved due to PCS to Germany earlier this month (September '13)

Met in December of 2011, married in August of 2013 in NYC

Filed for AoS mid-September. I am very worried because I know I'm not with him at the moment as we decided it's best for me to finish school and get my engineering degree in May 2014.

I'm particularly nervous but planned on visit often after I get I-131. Have not received biometrics appointment as of yesterday, nervous that I won't get the Advance Parole until after Christmas

Kind of new here, hello everyone!

[kashewmoo 9]

Hi all! I've spoken to a few of you in other threads, but I thought I would come over and join here, too.

My wife and I have been together since 2007 (though we met back in 2005). We lived together for a time between 2009 and 2011 when I was attending school in the US under the F-1 visa, but unfortunately I had to let it expire after financial hardship, no longer able to make tuition payments. We became engaged a couple of weeks before I left the US, and decided early this year that we wanted to go ahead and finally get married - two and a half years was more than enough time, even if we were separated by the border.

Of course, after the news of section 3 of DOMA's downfall, we were absolutely overjoyed that we could finally move onto preparations of our future together. We got married in early July, and our I-130 was sent off to the Phoenix Lockbox on July 28th.

Like most of year, we're now just playing the waiting game - we've officially hit the two month mark since our petition was mailed. I've honestly been working so much that the days have been completely blurring together, but I take comfort in knowing that we've waited six years already; what's another few months?

Congratulations to all those who have been able to move forward in the process! I'm so excited for each and every one of you!

Edited October 1, 2013 by kashewmoo

[Vinn 3]

Hi guys,

On September 12th we receive this email "Your case has been accepted and routed to the USCIS California Service Center for processing. Within 7-10 days by standard mail you will receive your official Receipt Notice (Form I-797)" but it's already October 2 and we still havent received anyhting yet. How long does it usually take for us to receive the Form I-797?

And also, anybody out there waiting in Manila or whose other half is in Manila?

[FulanoDeTal 19]

Hi Vinn,

I received our NOA1 (Form I-797) about 10 days after the email notification. It doesn't say much more than what's in the email, but it does confirm that everyone's name is entered properly in the system.

I think there's at least one other couple here whose beneficiary is in the Philippines, although I don't know if he's in Manila.

Good luck with your visa process!

[Not a Tailor 1,370]

Me and my fiancé are getting married in a couple months and then filing. Just doing all the research now while we wait to be able to. I'm SO excited to get to relocate to her. DOMA getting overturned meant we could start talking about this--she's stuck in the US for grad school for a few more years.

[wornoutcowboy 6]

I mailed my petition in from Vientiane, Laos six weeks ago and finally received my NOA1 today. The check was cashed too so I know for sure it got there. This was a great relief being I had suspected it was lost.

Anyway, just to let you guys know the Feds are indeed working if you are concerned about the Shutdown.

So, more waiting to do but at least I know it is at the service center..