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So you chose to ignore all the warnings in your previous thread and go ahead with this plan anyway. No. She was granted a green card based on the assumption that she would be living with her USC parent, who petitioned her for family reunification, not to take her to the US to live with her grandparents. You don't seem to realize how serious this is. Green cards can be revoked if found out to be granted in error or as a result of misrepresentation.

Let me ask you point blank, do you have a genuine marriage? If you do, then the option is still to focus on your marriage and build proper evidence together. If your wife visits you now, use that time to gather photos, family involvement, financial records, travel records, and other proof to show your relationship is real and ongoing. A short visit (multiple) will help, but ideally, spending more time together is what will really strengthen your case. Divorce????? if you are really thinking it will be an easy fix it is absolutely not. it may create more red flags as people are suggesting here. If you don't then the premise to apply for any family based visa is null and void. I think you want to hear something from the community here, but unfortunately most of us will not give you any advice with are not per the law of the land.

You've been given the solution. It starts with spending significant time together. If you will not, or cannot do that, then yes, give up on the marriage and go your own ways.

Just a piece of advice. Be careful of any attorney claiming 100% success, or that they can speed things up. As to your situation, as others have said, if your marriage is legitimate, then you have to do the legwork to show that to others. You do not need to convince us, but if you can, then it is possible you can actually convince those that matter at USCIS and at the consulate. Maybe treat it as if you just recently got married, and even though a long distant marriage, there are ways you can work together to commingle the marriage, spend time together, etc. as you work through immigration. Good Luck!

Forget about immigration, and think about it a minute... Your priority was not your marriage, or each other, in the last 10 years. You said so yourself in your initial message. Ten years is a long time. Why is immigrating suddenly important? Don't you want to spend some time together to see if you are actually able to be "married" first?

Hi everyone, I had my interview yesterday, and we were accepted! 🎉 We’ll receive our visas once the new fiscal year begins (Oct 1). The officer said we should get our passports back with visas around the first or second week of October. The process went really smoothly. Just as others mentioned, the staff were very kind, helpful, and efficient. Don’t bring a computer or electronics. You can only leave small items in a tiny locker that fits just a phone. Here’s how it went step by step: At the first table, they check that you have all the required original documents. You’re called to a window to hand in originals + copies and answer a few simple questions (confirming current address, new U.S. address for green card delivery, etc.). Fingerprinting at another window. Final window for the actual interview. Documents requested: Passport Birth certificate Marriage/divorce certificate(s) Police certificate Old U.S. visa info 2 U.S. passport photos Employer’s recent job offer letter (if applicable) Financials (listed on IL, but not asked in my case) I-797 approval notice (she said it was okay if you didn’t have it, but was glad I did) They want both originals and photocopies (including the passport bio page). If you’re missing copies, they can make them for you, but they prefer you have them. One update from what’s written online: they asked if you’ve lived in any country for more than 6 months (not 12 months as stated on the website). I'm assuming this question is for the Police certificate. Interview questions included: Have you ever committed a crime? Have you ever overstayed in the U.S.? Any issues crossing the border? What do you do for work? Where will you live in the U.S./what's your plan? The entire process took about 2.5 hours. Hope this helps! Feel free to ask me any questions.

The actions you did not take (filing the childrens' petitions when you filed for your spouse) are the reasons for any separation. What you can do to avoid separation now, is to delay your spouse's interview until they can all go together. Are these the petitioner's step children or their natural children?

I'm going to skip a bunch of stuff previously mentioned. As your granddaughter is not living with her USC father and in his physical and legal custody inside the US when she entered she will not automatically gain citizenship through him. She must wait until she turns 18 and apply on her own. Minors cannot apply they must wait until 18.

No it will not be a moot point.... No matter the financial situation of the primary sponsor, the joint sponsor is liable for the immigrant until, (A) The get their citizenship, (B) Work 40 quarter (usually 10 years if working continuously), (C) They leave the country and forfeit their LPR status or (D) They die. The I-864 is not disclosed on any credit reporting agency's database. If he and his wife file taxes jointly then she will need to fill out and sign the I-864A unless he wants to only qualify with his own income and then he will need to submit W-2s along with the tax return transcripts in his I-864 and only claim that income in the form.

Don't! It's IR-1 status. Contact your Congressman's immigration liaison immediately. You'll fill out an easy form (perhaps available on their website) to give permission for their office to intervene on your behalf. The office has contacts within USCIS that you have no prayer of reaching. --- Thread is shifted from the CR-1 Case Progress subforum to the main CR-1 Process forum.

Also worth noting that while technically permitted 1 year outside the U.S. as an LPR, CBP starts getting angsty and asking questions at six months. I wouldn’t initially enter and then leave for longer than 120 days personally. Especially under the current administration.

My wife applied June 2 under the 5 year rule and received notice of interview being scheduled for November 13 just yesterday. We're in NYC.

Does the Lawyer offer a money back guarantee?

Lack of time together and other evidence of relationship is your problem, not late submission of a US tax related document.

Agreed, this is hard to see as valid marriage for immigration purposes. Even if OP starts meeting more frequently, it would look weird having 10 year gap of not seeing each other, with visits ramping up before filing new immigration paperwork. I'm skeptical any immigration benefit can be obtained through this relationship. Explanations like "busy life, COVID" don't look compelling at all. COVID was 5, nearly 6 years ago now. I'd argue POTUS is way busier than any of us are, and still manages to spend time with his wife. Is it that impossible to see each other once a year, even once in two years? It doesn't look like marriage was a priority for the past 10 years.

Yep, as said above, a whole new application but if we're reading it right and you have only been together once in the past decade, then you're going to be facing a huge battle to get a visa. That's not a normal marriage by anybody's standards. So I wouldn't bother applying yet as it's likely to be money down the drain. Have a year or two visiting each other regularly, spending time together and showing you've combined your lives, then apply. Good luck.

So in those 10 years you only saw each other once? yes, start from scratch and make sure to spend more time together.

Hello everyone, I'm finally done! My whole N-400 process is under 200 days so I thought that's not too bad. As I promised earlier, here's my timeline: Note that I received my green card through EB-NIW back in 2017 and therefore submitted my N-400 under General Provision. Day 1 - March 4 - N-400 application submitted online Day 2 - March 5 - Received online notice: Biometric Reuse Day 126 - July 7 - Received online notice: Interview is scheduled Day 161 - August 11 - Interview (given N-652 - Recommended for approval) Day 165 - August 15 - Received online notice: N-400 is recommended to be approved. Case was submitted for quality review Day 165 - August 15 - Received online notice: Oath Ceremony will be scheduled Day 176 - August 26 - Received online notice: Oath Ceremony Notice Was Mailed Day 198 - September 18 - Oath Ceremony Some highlights: - My interview was really quick and efficient. I arrived and went through security exactly 30 minutes before my schedule (as noted in the letter as the earliest time recommended), was called in ~25 minutes before my scheduled time, and by the exact time of my appointment, I was already done and out of the building. - Going through the immigration process, I know that we're all used to dealing with flat, non-emotional faces of USCIS officers (if we're unlucky, sometimes we had to deal with the grumpy or rude ones), but at the day of the oath ceremony, I found that everyone was full of smiles! From all the USCIS officers, the court officers, the judge, even the security guards up front were all smiles and friendly. This really made my day! - The judge made a wonderful 10-minute remark about what being an immigrant to this country is about, that really touched my soul and made me teary eyed. I of course knew that it's a big important day, but it still caught me off guard how I became that emotional. I'm so grateful and relieved that this whole process is finally complete for me. My journey began almost 30 years ago as a graduate student, and then various other visa types, so it's been quite a while. Congratulations to everyone! And for those who are still waiting, your time will come soon, too!

Time to "come to jesus" on this. You were advised properly back in February.

Pretty sure Charlie Kirk was the target. What he brought to the table was the youth vote. Prior to him and TPUSA, Democrats could rely on the youth vote overwhelmingly siding with them. The university campus engagement that he and TPUSA managed to achieve, in spite of the anti-Free Speech objections, is a major factor in the youth vote shifting rightward, in the last election especially. He didn’t bring conflict, he brought debate. And once you start listening and debating, regardless of your viewpoint, you start bringing universities back to being a place of ideas, as opposed to indoctrination. That’s dangerous to those who rely on indoctrination to breed conformity. And when you are not able to silence those ideas with words, alternative solutions become your only option. The question now is who, if anyone, can and will continue what he was doing? This assassination will inevitably chill this type of outreach. Knowing there might be a gunman with a high-powered rifle at an event is a powerful disincentive to a prospective speaker. But this attack can not be allowed to defeat open and honest discourse in this country. If it does, then we are already way down the road to more violence. ☠️

Marry and file concurrent I-130, I-485, I-765 packages.....asap

Crisis averted! We found the Birth Certificate

Concur. Filing to remove conditions will only add to the confusion.

Ditto, I was just about to say the same thing, a year would be too long IMO. I'd also make sure I started making moves towards showing the US will be my permanent home when I entered for the first time on the visa i.e. get a bank account set up, driving licence, etc. Just in case it's needed at a later date.

Without a timeline it is hard to really give accurate advice in some respects...but taking what you typed as accurate, meaning CR-1 issued end of september 2023 means it expires, er, now or in the next couple of days.... meaning get your butt to the airport now and get on a plane before it expires. You may get some pushback at your POE. Just be honest. Do not sign anything - you may be given an I-407 to relinquish your status, which you must refuse. You may be given an NTA, and if you get paroled in so be it, it's easier to sort form the inside rather than the outside. If your card has already expired, then file an I-751 now (it can be mailed from overseas, it simply must have a US mailing address on the form to be accepted), with a note asking to excuse the late filing, then get the receipt forwarded to you from the US and get on the first plane once you have it. Abandonment has many aspects and the burden of proof requires many things - that you maintained 'significant ties' to the US will help you, but that you were out continuously for over a year will count against you. On the other hand, a terminal family member could be soncidered a valid life reason for an extended absense. Honestly, you can sort that out later - just get back to the US now. This is one of those 'do not pass go, do not collect $200' situations, and it beholds you to act swiftly... Take it from someone going through the rigmarole of a messed up I-751 case - you really do not want it to happen to you. Get to the airport.

As things are and have been since 2015, this set of circumstances screams (Marriage for immigration purposes only) Perhaps it's not, but that's how it will look to both USCIS and a Consular Officer....UNLESS....they find a way to spend significant time together, multiple times, with at least a couple months together before filing another petition, then significant additional visits between filing and visa interview. An attorney cannot manufacture relationship evidence. The couple must behave like people in genuine marriages behave. That would represent a tremendous change in mostly the life of the the US Citizen Petitioner. Divorce and trying a K-1 visa, will absolutely assure failure. Don't spend another second thinking about that.

They are, if they make them realise that that's exactly how an immigration officer will see it as well, particularly in a high fraud consulate like Islamabad. So now they know they need to visit each other as regularly as work and finances will allow, and build a much stronger picture of a marriage for their case. Otherwise they're just heading for another denial. Personally I don't see what value a lawyer would add now, that money would be far better spent on time together. And then maybe a lawyer consult further down the line when they are ready to apply again.

You're MARRIED, you don't qualify for K1. Actually meet with your wife more than once and have her file I-130.

I got naturalized in Houston today. Took me only from April till today. Very smooth process overall.

Hi guys! I figured I'd type out my experience. Especially since I haven't seen a lot of detailed experiences/reviews, might as well! Our interview was the 10th of September. 9:30am, bright and early! We arrived at 9:07am and saw a few people arriving. There's a LOT of parking for visitors, so no need to worry about that. We left our phones in the car, but you do not have to. We walked in to the building and had to go through security. Have your appointment letter ready! That's the first thing they ask for. Then you have to put your phone, wallet etc in a little box for the xray thing. Walk through a detector. Then you walk over to a little podium where someone points you to the right window. There were about 4 couples in front of me, not too bad. They took my ID, appointment letter, photo and 2 fingerprints. She then wrote a number on my letter and told us to go upstairs. They'd call us by our names. We then went up to the next floor and saw quite a few people waiting. I wanna say around 40. I kinda panicked knowing we didn't have our phones. Last time I did my K1 interview in Germany there was about the same amount of people, probably even less, and I waited for about 4-5 hours. Without food, entertainment... So that sent me back there. BUT, I think we waited for less than 15 minutes. We were fooling around checking receipts in our wallets when they called my name. We then followed the officer to her cubicle/room. She didn't say much, that made me nervous, but I just went with the flow. We got sworn in and she started by confirming our adress. We moved a week before and I had changed it in USCIS, but it hadn't changed on her end. So we confirmed my new one. She then asked How we met/how our relationship started. I started explaining, then my husband started adding information. I think she didn't hear me clearly or didn't listen, because she didn't understand we met online until AFTER my husband added some things to the story. She then asked How did you build your relationship/life since moving? It was something like this. My husband took the lead on this one and was very vague. This made me EXTREMELY nervous because I could tell the answer was not what she was looking for. But she continued with another question before I could add anything. She then asked Did you work unauthorized? I was honest and told her no. I even joked saying I was glad to not have to work for a little bit and just relax at home. She laughed, this put me at ease. She also added I'm a full time dog mom anyway (dog was mentioned in the previous questions+pictures). She asked if I had any new evidence to add, which I did, a new 864 due to a job change. She kinda skimmed it and didn't seem to want to do too much with it. I forgot to give her the paystubs and employer letter, so that sent me in a panic once I realised while we were driving back home. She then started asking the yes/no questions. She began with the ones I put 'yes' on on the 485. It was 13 and 76 top of my head. It was about overstaying/violating the terms of my visa. I explained that our AOS got rejected twice, and due to the rejections I overstayed/filed AOS too late. She nodded and seemed satisfied with the answer. A few questions were asked, like if I helped traffic people, drugs, if I ever killed someone, stuff like that. At one question, one about government assistance, my husband cleared his throat right after I said no. I looked at him in panic and said Babe now she thinks I'm lying!!!! We all laughed. She mentioned she is sniffly too due to the aircon being on on that side, another officer has a space heater and it trips up the AC. Was kinda funny. She then asked if we had anything else to add. I said nope. I offered her stuff we brought like my husband's birth certificate, but she didn't need them. We joked about the BC since we had to drive to Oklahoma to get it, so it was a 7h round trip. She said it was a good bonding experience and we laughed. She then explained that the case would now be reviewed again and once we hear back, it usually takes 30-60 days before you get the card. Something like that. She said a few other things but nothing that really stuck in my mind. I was honestly kind of dissapointed that we weren't approved on the spot. Atleast I thought. We then went to the car and it was 9:52. So that was crazy! I kept checking my USCIS account for news until Edward & Jaycel here told me that the system takes 24h to notify us of any changes. So then I gave up LOL. The next morning I woke up at 10:30, checked my phone and saw the email. 'We have taken an action on your case'. I quickly logged in, hoping but thinking it would just be the change to 'reviewing'. BUT! It said I got approved!!!! The email arrived 10am, so I'm guessing we were approved on the spot but just not told. I think that's all? It all feels like a fever dream now LOL.

I had my interview this morning at the Manchester office. It went very well. I recommended for grant of citizenship and sent home with a letter that said so. Was told to wait for oath to be scheduled. I was way over prepared. I uploaded additional relationship evidence a week before, then as more stuff came in over the week, I prepared even more to take to the interview. I also prepared a packet to demonstrate good moral character. Husband and I went together to the USCIS office in Manchester, assuming they would want to interview us together, but at the door they asked if the interview was only for citizenship or also ROC. Since no ROC, they said he couldn’t come in. The interview itself was a lot simpler than expected. Literally just asked 6 questions, then asked me to read a sentence, write a sentence and moved on to the N400 form and security questions. Nothing subjective at all. Must also add, everyone at this office were super nice, professional, and friendly. Can’t tell you how much that helped me, as I was a little nervous. Especially when I found out husband wasn’t going in with me. They saw our expression and reassured me, “you got this!” My officer was also nice and kind. It was over quickly. 20 minutes I think. Just really relieved. Will update here when I hear about my oath.

If I am reading your post history correctly, it seems the father is still in China. Is that correct? If so, something is off here, as an immigrant cannot enter the US prior to the petitioner entering. Perhaps came to US with child, then returned? What am I missing?

I see some movement today; my application has been updated. Status has not changed, but at least I know it's not lost among the other cases. Maybe someone dug it out after so many inquiries. "Application for Naturalization","updatedAt":"2025-10-02","updatedAtTimestamp":"2025-10-02T16:19:57.

So, even at work here, if we have MSc or PhD persons apply, one of the first things we do before interviewing them is find their dissertation, pull it and have a look at the quality of the work. When being interviewed, the person will be asked about their dissertation. If they can't even answer basic questions about their research, they're out. So, why didn't anyone on the board think to look for this man's dissertation, irrespective of hiring some firm to vet him? Wouldn't it be a red flag if you couldn't locate said dissertation? The board still interviews potential supers to narrow the list. Same goes with the one in PA. Pleading ignorance just isn't good enough. Does anyone do any sort of due diligence anymore? I do but I got told by my newest (clueless) boss that she thinks I'm negative because I ask for too much information when making decisions. Weird how I don't want the fingers pointed if something gets screwed up or I'm responsible for someone screwing up under my watch!!!

While that is true, the OP has not stated staying was his intention when he entered. A change of intention after entry is not visa fraud. Intent on entry is the key either way. If he changed his mind after entry, adjusting status is an option, but a person from Ghana who was able to obtain a visitor visa for the USA, presumably had strong ties, likely including a well paying job. The problems associated with adjusting status are that if he leaves before obtaining advance parole, he won't get back in, and second, it will take that same six or more months before obtaining authorization to work in the USA. All that time without a job, and/or the ability to travel internationally, often become deal killers.

so…huge surprise today! got email notifying me the application had been approved and my card is being produced! INSANELY QUICK! 58 days since I submitted my pack/application!!!!! so apparently, quick ones do happen sometimes!

Hi! Sorry for taking such a long time to write how it all went in Sweden etc. I've been so busy planning with my moving, but im finally here in the Usa, so happy to be here! Whenever you have your interview date, book asap the medical since there is only 2 doctors that do that in Helsinki and usually they are pretty booked. I was able to get my medical 11 days before my interview, and they told me the results will take 2 weeks. Luckily my doctor was extremely nice and send my papers right away, so i was able to go pick them up, day before i left to Sweden! Also yes, you need to go pick the medical envelope from their office in Helsinki, they don't mail them. You need to have your vaccines up to date and have them printed with you. I had to take one booster and it was indeed quite expensive there. I traveled to Sweden few days before my interview, and spend long weekend there. Embassy was very easy to find and everything went super quick there. They first collected my papers and took finger prints, after that i waited and then i had my interview. Very basic questions, when we met, where, when he proposed etc. And then they took my passport and told they will send my things in 2 weeks. All that took like 30 minutes 😅 They sended my passport and my envelope less than a week thru UPS. If there is anything you want ask, i'll do my best to answer!😊

Everyone knows that the military is actually run by those NCOs ranked Sergeant and above. Officers are merely there as window dressing. 🫡

This link to the nvc stage of processing is invaluable. Read step by step. Follow the links to understand country specific, document specific information. Come back here with any questions as you step through this process. Go well !! https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/immigrate/the-immigrant-visa-process/step-1-submit-a-petition/step-2-begin-nvc-processing.html

You basically already have been doing that for the last 10 years. You can of course try to get a tourist visa, but your chances of getting one are low. You can meet in another country and/or she can visit you more in your home country. You haven’t answered the question about how much you’ve been keeping in touch with each other, have you had any regular communication in these last 10 years?

It absolutely is our business, as OP has reached out in a public forum for “urgent” advice. Many of us here have years and years of experience navigating the U.S. immigration system, and if anything, it has turned us into realists. It doesn’t benefit anyone to sugarcoat and give false hopes. What OP has absolutely looks like a GC marriage, and no lawyer can magically change that.

This is an ABSURD idea, and will only serve to confirm that you are in this for a green card, which is how it already looks. OP, you have an uphill battle. You will not be coming to the United States anytime soon, if at all. Like others have said, the best thing you could do is have your wife move to Pakistan and live together as married partners. The vetting and scrutiny is wayyyy harsher now than it was 10 years ago.

That is irrelevant. For your country, you need a LOT of time actually together as a married couple. There is no other way. I have seen cases denied for very little time together over such a long period. She should consider moving to you.

Honestly, in the current situation your chances are very low. The best step may be for your wife to come live with you in Pakistan for some time so you can build enough proof before filing again. Pakistan is considered a high-fraud country, so cases here are always scrutinized more heavily. It’s not the end of the world you can still succeed if you plan properly and build the right evidence. Good luck for your upcoming journey. PS: you do not qualify for any K1 or anything like that please do not waste money and time submitting those applications.

are you cheating on nancy pelosi already?

Bank statements and a letter from the bank would suffice as proof. Just keep in mind that USCIS does not have to accept assets. A well qualified joint sponsor would be your best bet for clearing the sponsorship hurdle.

Had my interview on Monday; even though they'd not given an update it was a combo interview. Interview started about 75 minutes late. Thankfully I brought water and snacks and had a book to read. Once we were guided in there were lots of questions around the relationship, how we met, any additional docs we wanted to share (I brought a fairly limited set of docs: beneficiary listing on investments, most recent bank account statements showing both of us on them, insurance cards showing we're on the same plan, ID cards both at the same address, and property tax record showing both of us, a couple vacation photos). The officer just glanced at those and seemed more happy to see we'd brought something than in what we brought, none of them were examined. She then asked if I also wanted to complete the naturalization questions today, and I said yes. Then she moved on to civics test and asked my husband to sit in the back of the office for a bit; I made 6 for 6 on the questions, read and wrote the sentence requested, and confirmed the long list of yes/no questions. Then we were done. The interview took about 45 minutes but probably 20 minutes of that time was her reading or writing and waiting for their system to save or open screens. Apparently there were having some slowness issues on the day. I was told she was approving both my I751 and N400, and I'd be scheduled for a oath as it was too late in the day for a same-day oath. When I got home I saw the approval on the I751 and the pending oath status on the N400. Today (3 days later) I got the online copy for the scheduled oath letter which will be on the 9th. I'll give another update once that's done, but definitely in the home stretch now!

AAAAAAH IVE BEEN APPROVED GUYS

I saw a recent case which took more than 9 months for an EAD. This is one of the major disadvantages of a K-1. Hopefully good news will come soon.

The Left in the U.S. … No room for genuine political discourse for fear of reality creeping in to their worldview and countering the narrative. The only recourse that remains open to these radicals is violence, and the knowledge that the media will spin faster than a centrifuge to justify its righteousness. ”The shooter might have been a supporter shooting off their gun in celebration”. MSNBC There are some truly sick people associated with the Mainstream Media Machine. 🤮