-
America's Largest Immigration Community!
Free US immigration self-help guides, example forms, community discussion, case tracking & estimated approval dates!
Community Discussion
Country Specific Help
Immigration Guides
Immigration Timelines
Approval Estimates
Professional Help
AS SEEN:- How to Use VisaJourney ❯ Join Today for Free!
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 DiscussionsTopic Popularity Poster #1 Mother's GC expired
US Citizen Family Discussion- Model4life1
#2 RFE for I-485 assets-only sponsor: "could not determine that the petitioning sponsor on Form I-864 is qualified"
Green Card Discussion- Josh N
#3 Co-Sponsor Didn't file Taxes for 2024 due to financial reasons. Will this give us trouble..
NVC Discussion- ChristymH
#4 Question 38 on form I-130
DCF Discussion- Paul_Light
#5 F4 India â PD Nov 2006 Is Current, But Still Waiting for Welcome Letter
NVC Discussion- sharansbchitown
Community SpotlightPSA: If entering the USA 2 years after marriage, kindly remind the immigration officer of this
spicynujac posted a topic in IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & Procedures,
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?"- 12 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).
Dovahkiinali0605 posted a topic in K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures,
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?-
- 23 replies
Wrong USCIS application form filed by my lawyer!
narayan333 posted a topic in K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress Reports,
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?
PeachyTocker posted a topic in K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures,
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
Mariammaria posted a topic in Adjustment of Status Case Filing and Progress Reports,
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?
gandalf1989 posted a topic in IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & Procedures,
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 DiscussionsCo-Sponsor Didn't file Taxes for 2024 due to financial reasons. Will this give us trouble.. 1:34 pm today
ChristymH
Read 127 Times
5 RepliesHi all,
Our co-sponsor wasn't able to file taxes for the current tax year due to financial reasons. Would using her as a Co-sponsor be an issue?
I'm not sure if they would find her illegible to help sponsor, even though she's filed all previous tax years.
Anyone have thoughts on this?
F4 India – PD Nov 2006 Is Current, But Still Waiting for Welcome Letter 9:55 am today
sharansbchitown
Read 93 Times
4 RepliesHi everyone,
I wanted to check in and see if anyone else is in a similar situation. My F4 petition for India has a priority date of November 2006, which just became current in the June 2025 Visa Bulletin.
However, I haven t received any communication from the National Visa Center (NVC) yet no welcome letter, no case number. I understand there s a backlog, but I d love to know if anyone with a similar PD has already received their welcome letter or heard from NVC.
Quick summary:
-
F4 Category (India)
-
Priority Date: November 2006
-
PD is officially current as of June 2025
-
Still waiting for the NVC Welcome Letter
Would greatly appreciate hearing if anyone has received theirs or is in the same boat. Any advice, updates, or timelines would be helpful for tracking progress.
Thanks in advance and best of luck to everyone in this journey!
Question 38 on form I-130 3:08 am today
Paul_Light
Read 114 Times
4 RepliesHi, I'm preparing our I-130 for our upcoming interview for DCF in Bangkok.
I'm a naturalized U.S. citizen. How do I respond to question 38 if I'm unable find my original certificate of naturalization. It's $555 for a duplicate.
Do I need it if I hold a current U.S. passport?
If I don't need it how do I answer the question?
Mother's GC expired 1:44 am today
Model4life1
Read 282 Times
7 RepliesMy mom had a 10 years green card and during those years, she shuttled within the US and birth country because of her mom. Almost two years ago, we lost her mom after years of illness. She returned to take care of her mom which made her stay beyond the GC rule of been outside the US. She said she went to the US embassy but was turned away saying she can't return here because she didn't return on time.
What can be done at this point? She has been out of the US since 2023.
Thank you.
RFE for I-485 assets-only sponsor: "could not determine that the petitioning sponsor on Form I-864 is qualified" 10:25 pm yesterday
Josh N
Read 240 Times
5 RepliesHi all,
Looking for any advice on how best to proceed with our RFE - thank you in advance!
Context
I m a UK citizen and was admitted to the US on a K-1 visa. I married my US citizen fianc e (named on the I-129F) within the 90-day window.
We used Boundless Immigration for the K-1, but they caused delays by sending a package with a missing page, so we filed the AoS (I-485 + I-765) ourselves.
I didn t use a lawyer because our application seemed mostly straightforward, and the main complexity now is our I-864: my wife (the petitioner) is currently unemployed and we re sponsoring based on her cash assets only.
Timeline
2025
21 March - Arrival in US (I-94 valid until 18 June)
6 June - Married*
9 June - sent I-485 and I-765 concurrent filing via UPS
17 June - received I-797C Rejection Notice**, and USCIS returned the full original application package
25 June - sent corrected I-485 and I-765 concurrent filing package via UPS
27 June - Received Date for I-485 and I-785
1 July - Notice Date for I-797C Receipts (I-485 and I-785)
3 July - Notice Date for USCIS Account Access Notice
4 July - Notice Date for Biometrics Appointment Notice
15 July - Date of RFE for I-485 (see pages from RFE below)
* I know that a lot of advice suggests not leaving it so late in the 90-day period to get married. We are in a bona fide relationship and had genuine reasons. I'm mentioning this because I know it may seem odd, but ultimately is legal within the K1 process.
** This was due to my error. I submitted the I-485 with a previous edition date. Totally my fault, I had been going by the "Expires" date in the top right when doing final checks before sending, but as I know now this does not mean the Form is valid. For anyone reading this, ALWAYS check the "Edition" date in the bottom left matches the latest published edition on the USCIS website.
Summary of the RFE
QuoteBased on the documents submitted, we could not determine that the petitioning sponsor on Form I-864, Affidavit of Support, is qualified. In order to be a qualified sponsor, the petitioning sponsor's Form I-864 must be properly completed and signed, and the supporting documents must establish that the petitioning sponsor's income meets 125 percent of the federal poverty guideline for the sponsor s household size. See Form I-864P for information on the Federal Poverty Guidelines.
To me, this looks like a generic response, and it is not clear what was insufficient e.g. the form itself, income/asset amounts, or the supporting documentation.
Full text of RFE attached.
Summary of our case
- Household size of 2, therefore poverty threshold is 3x $26,437 = $79,311
- USC spouse has been on a career break while traveling Europe, so unemployed for 12+months
- Sponsorship is based on assets, with our I-864 including:
- Small income (<$10k, mostly interest + small ad hoc work)
- $100k $200k in sponsor's assets (CD + savings, 12-month history included)
We explained the small income estimate in Part 11 "Additional Information" and provided bank statements showing movement of funds between the CD and savings.
Contents of submitted package
I-485 & I-765
- All required forms and ID docs
- I-693 (sealed), marriage cert, I-94, etc.
- Bona fide marriage evidence (lease, insurance, texts, etc.)
I-864
- Form + additional information on continuation sheets
- 3 years of IRS transcripts (2022 2024)
- Bank statements (12 months for both CD and savings)
- Sponsor s birth certificate
- Applicant passport & visa copies
- My (immigrant s) UK company stock ownership, evidence of liquidation being undertaken this year, information about value of stocks after liquidation, info from received dividends, foreign exchange transactions of cash - all submitted to explain Part 7 (Assets of Principal Immigrant)
Potential issues
I'd hazard a guess at any of the following being issues:
- Documentation for the transfer from CD to savings within prior 12 months may be unclear?
- Income being an estimate of interest for this year based on last year's history might have caused confusion
- Sponsor s current unemployment status
- Inclusion of my (immigrant) assets may have added complexity
Next steps
If it seems like the issue is just administrative, perhaps we should simplify and refile a cleaner I-864, only including:
- The sponsor s bank statements showing >$80k in assets
- Birth certificate for proof of citizenship
- Possibly remove all income references and my (immigrant s) assets
If the issue is unclear or it seems like a more material issue, we could:
- Try to get a joint sponsor
- Try to show new income from my wife if she takes a job now, although unsure if USCIS accepts new employment in an RFE response with less than 12 months work history/pay stubs etc
- Get a lawyer (only haven't done so because of cost)
Questions
- Does this sound more like a documentation/admin issue, or a genuine eligibility problem?
- Would a simplified I-864 (assets only) that exceeds the asset threshold make the case clearer?
- Anyone with similar RFE experience for I-864 using assets only?
Thank you!