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  • Trending Immigration Discussions
      Topic   Popularity Poster
    #1 DCF I130 Canada or Normal Process
    IR1/CR1 Visa Discussion
    - popularity rating: 4104 bluewater12
    #2 USCIS Restores Integrity to the VAWA Domestic Abuse Program After Finding Rampant Fraud
    Changes in Family Discussion
    - popularity rating: 812 Boiler
    #3 Do I have to be enrolled in school?
    - popularity rating: 471 blank avatar 74715
    #4 I need help so bad
    US Citizen Family Discussion
    - popularity rating: 362 blank avatar zhellzhelle
    #5 DHS Changes Process for Awarding H-1B Work Visas to Better Protect American Workers
    News
    - popularity rating: 249 Edward and Jaycel

  • 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?"
    • 20 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?
    • 31 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…
    • 22 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?
     
     
    • 77 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
    Translations of System Printouts - Abbreviations, codes etc
    3:42 pm today

    slempi

    blank avatar

    Read 24 Times
    1 Replies



    Hi

    I am working on a translation of the National Registry of Addresses to prove we have lived together for X years.

    The document is a print out from a system and contains some abbreviations and codes. Such as

    "Dnr" - Stands for "diarienummer" which means case number

    "Type: FB" - Whatever the type "FB" means is anyone's guess, it is seemingly just a code for the address entry in the system

    "Adm. change from" - Adm likely means Administrative, but who knows?

    What is the standard for dealing with peripheral abbreviations and codes that is not reliably translatable?

    Kind regards,

    Slempi



     
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    Small typo on i130
    2:16 pm today

    novakoala

    blank avatar

    Read 33 Times
    1 Replies



    Hello, there s a small typo on my filed i130 form. Under Other Address and Contact Info for the Beneficiary, 13f is filled out but the address is the same as item 11. Is a correction needed to explain that 13f should be blank or can we leave it as is? If a correction is needed, what would be the best way?

    Thanks in advance!

    IMG_8572.jpeg



     
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    Need to be physically present for marriage?
    12:20 pm today

    fbarajas818

    blank avatar

    Read 66 Times
    3 Replies



    Hey so me (american) and my fiance (japan national) are getting married soon and are compiling all the documents we need for the I-130 and so on.

    We are planning to get married in japan and she was going to submit the marriage documents inperson to her relevant office on our behalf as she says I don't have to be there in person for us to get married.

    However, I read in the instructions provided from the official website of american immigration where you formally do all the applications like the I-130 form and in the section marked "Who may not file form I-130?" it states, "you may NOT file form I-130 for a person in the following catagories: 4.) A spouse, if you and your spouse were not both physically present at the marriage ceremony, unless the marriage was consummated".

    From this it sounds like I have to be there do i can provide proof there after I was actually there so the application doesn't get denied. I also can't "consummate" the marriage if I'm not physically there so it seems i have to be there but im not sure.

    Long story short, I'm confused because I've seen both comments online of you have to be there and you don't have to be there for the ceremony but the instructions seem to state clearly you have to be there and I wanted some clarification from anyone who's done this before.

    Want to make sure I get everything done right and provide as much evidence as possible to help speed up the process in anyway.

    Screenshot_20251223_091951_Drive.jpg



     
    View Topic

    DCF I130 Canada or Normal Process
    10:21 am today

    bluewater12



    Read 228 Times
    18 Replies



    Hi - my wife and I live in Canada. I am a US citizen by birth. I work for a US company from Canada. I am looking at the possibility of working for a US based team at the same company. This would require relocation. My understanding is that DCF is for "exceptional circumstances" and that simply wanting to work for a US team would not qualify, but having an offer in hand could. I don't foresee us moving in the next 6-8 months.

    1. My understanding is I should just apply under the normal I-130 route given my circumstance and timeline?

    2. If we end up needing to move sooner, I assume that I would move down and start work and my wife could only visit for X amount of time?

    3. Would it be better to "wait" until I have a job offer in the US and go the DCF route?

    4. My wife also works for a US based company, I don't know anything about the L1 visa process but if she were to pursue this, would she still be able to file the I-130?

    Thanks



     
    View Topic

    DHS Changes Process for Awarding H-1B Work Visas to Better Protect American Workers
    10:03 am today

    Edward and Jaycel



    Read 83 Times
    3 Replies



    Just hit my inbox at work........

    U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services

    WASHINGTON The Department of Homeland Security is amending regulations governing the H-1B work visa selection process to prioritize the allocation of visas to higher-skilled and higher-paid aliens to better protect the wages, working conditions, and job opportunities for American workers. The new rule replaces the random lottery for selecting visa recipients with a process that gives greater weight to those with higher skills.

    The existing random selection process of H-1B registrations was exploited and abused by U.S. employers who were primarily seeking to import foreign workers at lower wages than they would pay American workers, said U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services spokesman Matthew Tragesser. The new weighted selection will better serve Congress intent for the H-1B program and strengthen America s competitiveness by incentivizing American employers to petition for higher-paid, higher-skilled foreign workers. With these regulatory changes and others in the future, we will continue to update the H-1B program to help American businesses without allowing the abuse that was harming American workers.

    The number of H-1B visas issued annually is limited to 65,000, with an additional 20,000 for U.S. advanced degree holders. The current random selection process has often been criticized for allowing unscrupulous employers to exploit it by flooding the selection pool with lower-skilled foreign workers paid at low wages, to the detriment of the American workforce. To address these concerns, the final rule will implement a weighted selection process that will increase the probability that H-1B visas are allocated to higher-skilled and higher-paid aliens while maintaining the opportunity for employers to secure H-1B workers at all wage levels. This final rule is effective Feb. 27, 2026, and will be in place for the FY 2027 H-1B cap registration season.

    The rule is another crucial step to strengthen the integrity of the H-1B nonimmigrant visa program. It is in line with other key changes the administration has made, such as the Presidential Proclamation that requires employers to pay an additional $100,000 per visa as a condition of eligibility.

    As part of the Trump Administration s commitment to H-1B reform, we will continue to demand more from both employers and aliens so as not to undercut American workers and to put America first, said Tragesser.

    For more information, see the final rule.

    For more information on USCIS and its programs, please visit uscis.gov or follow us on X (Formerly Twitter), Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, and LinkedIn.



     
    View Topic

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      @R_Garnett, I hope you and yours are looking forward to a wonderful holiday season. I wanted to check in with you to ask if you've received news from the NVC with an interview assignments. You should be the next person in my tracking list to receive news. 
       
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      Hello @Cesarr. I hope you are doing well. I wanted to check with you to ask if you've received any news from the NVC? Some people with DQ dates in October have started to receive appointments. Did you receive a message? 
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      Buenas Tardes, @AndreaJR. Quise preguntarte si recibiste una cita? Ví en facebook que algunas con DQ fechas en octubre ya han recibido un mensaje asignando su cita. 

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      Thank you for your kind response. Please do you have an idea on how long it takes the USCIS to make a decision to the noir response
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