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    Who are we? For over 20 years, VisaJourney has been your one-stop immigration community for Work, Student and Family Visas (K1 & IR1 Visas), Green Cards, US Citizenship, DACA, the Diversity Lottery and all other topics. Share your experiences and relax -- you are not alone!


  • Trending Immigration Discussions
      Topic   Popularity Poster
    #1 Out of status and green card interview
    Permanent Resident Family Discussion
    - popularity rating: 12293 blank avatar markordj
    #2 Chinese national worried about entry into USA
    Tourist Visa Discussion
    - popularity rating: 2010 blank avatar marcalan
    #3 Applying for K1 When Petitioner (Me) Has Very Old Petty Drug Charges
    K1 Visa Discussion
    - popularity rating: 1899 robear
    #4 Advice on going to Juarez
    IR1/CR1 Visa Discussion
    - popularity rating: 1161 Nathan707
    #5 K1 vs spouse visa when applying from outside the US? Have joint sponsor, want to minimize time apart
    Selecting a Family Visa
    - popularity rating: 786 blank avatar Bebbo

  • Community Spotlight
    PSA: If entering the USA 2 years after marriage, kindly remind the immigration officer of this
    When we last entered the US, our immigration officer said "Oh, hmm I wonder if I could go ahead and change you an IR-1."  The agent right next to him said "Yes, you can do that" and he acted surprised. His comments made it pretty clear he was going to erroneously issue us a CR-1 and he seemed to not even know he could change the visa status until his coworker advised him (THANK GOODNESS she overheard!).  I don't know how onerous the process is to correct such an oversight but I'm glad we didn't have to find out!
     
    Just wanted to pass this along in the hopes it saves someone from any problems with the wrong stamp being placed in the passport, as I've read about here before....  I would kindly remind the officer "We married >2 years ago.  We can enter with an IR-1 visa now right?"
    • 15 replies
    Traveled to Canada for 20 days after entering the U.S. on a K-1 visa (June 1–22). Seeking reentry under Automatic Visa Revalidation (AVR).
    I entered the U.S. on a K-1 visa on June 1st and left for Canada on June 2nd, remaining here for 20 days. I am now attempting to return to the U.S. through Toronto Pearson Airport (YYZ) using Automatic Visa Revalidation (AVR). My K-1 visa is expired, but my I-94 is still valid. Am I ok?
    • 28 replies
    Wrong USCIS application form filed by my lawyer!
    Hello, so my wife came in k-1 visa to USA and we got married and all. We filled for work permit and green card together but while doing that my lawyer filed for I-130 no idea why. Will that application make my process for work permit and green card slow? If so how do I withdrawal that application? My lawyer isn’t helpful at all. I need some help…
    • 20 replies
    Seeking advice for Thai/US couple - What US visa path to take?
    My gf and I live in Thailand but spend 2-4months in the US per year. Once/if we have children age 5+, the time split would become vice versa. We have no plans to live full-time in the United States in the next 5 years, but I visit my family and friends 2-3x per year for 2-3 weeks at a time. I would love it if she can join me for those trips and experience that part of my life. What options do we have -- US visa wise, maybe a tourist or fiance visa later? Other?
     
     
    • 72 replies
    Abandoned AOS and now regret it
    Please be nice, I know I made a mistake... But got my K1 approved and arrived in the US June 25, 2024 and applied for AOS February 25, 2025 -- then left the US (abandoned my AOS). Will I be banned for re-entry to the US -- even under a spouse visa?
    • 32 replies
    US Citizen with Foreign Fiancé: When and How to Get Married?
    I'm currently living and working in the United States. My fiancé currently lives in Japan. We have been dating for about 6 months, and we have met in person several times, but we are not yet married.
    My fiancé will be visiting me in the United States on a tourist visa some time in March or April and staying for about 3 months. I want to file for a fiance/spouse visa asap -- what's next?
    • 18 replies
  • Recent Immigration Discussions
    I-94 may expire before 485 Receipt Notice - reason to be concerned?
    2:04 pm today

    rks_emelander

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    Read 43 Times
    3 Replies



    What is the current normal timeline for receiving the 485 Receipt Notice now? We are filing for my wife (K-1 entry) next week and her I-94 expires in about 4 weeks (Aug 21) from now. Would there be any reason to be concerned if we don t get the receipt notice before then?
    We d also like for her to fly domestically in early September, but the receipt notice is needed for that, correct?


     
    View Topic

    AVITS appointment for IR5
    1:14 pm today

    Free Man

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    Read 51 Times
    2 Replies



    I recently created an AVITS account for my mother's IR-5 visa interview. After selecting the delivery method, I see a 'Pending Appointment Request' status. When I try to book an appointment, the system shows 'Currently, there are no appointments available for the selected location.'

    Could someone clarify: Should I keep checking the system for available appointments, or will NVC schedule the appointment and notify me



     
    View Topic

    Advice on going to Juarez
    8:54 am today

    Nathan707



    Read 129 Times
    9 Replies



    Wife finally got here appointment for September 3 a couple days ago, after being DQ since March 2024. She came here illegally since the age of 5 and has a clean record. Her 601a waiver was approved in March 2024 after a 3 year wait. Everything is pretty much set to go,her medical appointment is on August 29th and the fingerprints the next day. We are planning to fly out to El Paso and cross the border on the 28th. So I was wondering about couple of questions and hope to get some advice.

    I heard going to El Paso and then crossing the border from there is the way to go, is that true?

    With her being here illegally is it a risk flying to El Paso? We live in Dallas. With how things are right now I m really nervous she might get detained at the airport and get sent somewhere just to miss her appointment. She has her passport,it s not expired.

    If flying isn t the best course to get there what is?

    Hotel recommendations and modes of transportation.

    Our lawyer assured us it would be fine to fly but I am kind of paranoid with how things are right now. If anyone on here is willing to share their experience or any kind of general advice, I greatly appreciated TIA.



     
    View Topic

    K1 vs spouse visa when applying from outside the US? Have joint sponsor, want to minimize time apart
    8:50 am today

    Bebbo

    blank avatar

    Read 131 Times
    6 Replies



    Hello! I am an American living in Japan with my Japanese girlfriend. We intend to move to the US, but we are considering our visa options. The most important thing for us is that we can keep any time apart to an absolute minimum.

    Because of that, I would ideally like to avoid going to the US months or even years ahead of time and securing a job there. I have a family member willing to be a joint sponsor, who could also write a letter saying they will house us for the early period of our stay. I do have active US voter registration along with credit cards and a bank account as well. My plan would be to start job hunting in the US as soon as I arrive with my girlfriend (fiance/spouse at that point) living off savings and family help in the initial period.

    We are open to either the fiance visa or spouse visa. Recently we were more interested in the fiance visa because it seemed quicker and simpler, until I saw that joint sponsors are not technically accepted (though I ve seen many cases online where they were.)

    I plan on contacting the embassy on Monday for details, but I thought I d come on here and ask for advice in the meantime.

    How likely is using a joint sponsor on a K1?

    What path will minimize our time apart?

    How worried should I be about proving my domicile in the US if I don t want to move back before my girlfriend?

    Anything would be helpful and thank you in advance.



     
    View Topic

    Applying for K1 When Petitioner (Me) Has Very Old Petty Drug Charges
    2:17 am today

    robear



    Read 211 Times
    9 Replies



    Hi!

    My Fianc [New Zealand] and I [USA petitioner] are beginning our Visa Journey to bring her from New Zealand to USA. We have done a lot of research and have figured out most of the process and begun gathering information and creating our K1 application but we have one potentially serious problem which it has proven difficult to get specific information about handling, namely my old drug charges from over 25 years ago when I was in high school. These drug charges are the following: 1) (1997) Possession of Controlled Substance, Marijuana under 28 grams 2) (1998)Possession of Drug Paraphernalia (Pot Pipe).

    I have not yet been able to dig up the court records for these charges, but my memory is that both charges were expunged after attending 'drug school', a short 3 day out-patient drug education program. I have not been in any trouble at all since then and have had a respectable career. I can get things like letters of recommendation from scientists, engineers, law enforcement personnel and others from my personal network if this can help us.

    We want to try and file our own K1 application because we are relatively poor and like to DIY when possible. We are also considering the CR1 visa application process instead if it is less likely to result in these old charges being an issue, but we want to be together as soon as possible and currently believe the K1 process will be faster. If required I will take a loan to hire an immigration lawyer.

    Can anyone help us with stories of how they overcame similar petty offenses long in the past or potentially advice on finding more specific information or leads for a lawyer that would be experienced in such matters?

    Thanks so much for any help, advice or leads anyone here can offer and the best of luck on your own visa journeys!

    Robear & Moss



     
    View Topic

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  • Recent Status Updates

    • Josh B K  »  Billy Bob

      @Billy Bob, I wanted to check in with you to see if you have received notice of an interview assignment for your case in Ciudad Juarez? 
      · 0 replies
    • Josh B K  »  johanna_q

      @johanna_q I hope you and your spouse are doing well. I wanted to check with you and ask if you have received notice of an interview assignment in Ciudad Juarez for your case. I look forward to your reply. 
      · 3 replies
    • EricN  »  OldUser

      Hey you OldUser:  Can you help remind me where on VisaJourney we can go an view applicants with similar Visa applications to get a real idea of where we stand in the line?  Or maybe it is easier to go somewhere on the USCIS website??   We applied for my Wife's adult brother some 12 years ago and originally we thought it was going to b a 20 year process....it sounds like it might be a much longer process putting in jeopardy his ability to bring his under 21 year old children along with his wife.   Thanks, Eric
      · 0 replies
    • hopiiee

      need help everyone. thank you!
      1. i am so confused between these two. the first one states I should include my husband’s current annual income and he got a higher annual income now since he got promoted to a new position in the company a week before our wedding.
       
      and the 2nd one shows his recent 2024 annual income and it’s a different amount from his previous position in the same company. is it ok if both amounts are different?
      2. hubby had jr in our petition but it was omitted on our marriage certificate, for i-864 and i-485 should we continue using our last name with jr?
       
      3. in the i-864 should we include hubby’s current job position in the same company, even it it’s different from the i-134 job position he has?
       
      thank you
       
      · 1 reply
    • jodijadane

      I have a question. my i485 was denied because of affidavit wasn't done incorrectly. but my son case still pending. should I refile for him or just myself? when I refile should I add him on the new affidavit even though his case still pending? what's the best way to fill out a i864 with a joint sponsor if my spouse doesn't meet the requirements? Is my son case on Hold till I sort my stuff out? or will it be denied? sorry a lot of questions thanks in advance
      · 0 replies
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