US Immigration from Ukraine

Like many others on here, I have filed an I-130 for both my wife and step-daughter. CR-1 and CR-2. They have the same NOA1, but in the government s infinite wisdom, my wife was assigned to Nebraska, and then immediately transferred toTexas while our daughter was assigned to Potomac. It seems two related cases, which need to be approved together, would be more efficiently handled together.

That aside, I could find no way to create a timeline for both, effectively doubling the statistical value to this site. I ended up creating a second login account used only for the CR-2. I ve recently learned that only one account is allowed. I suggest the site revise that rule, or add the capability of multiple timelines.

Okay this is getting a little more than frustrating to figure out. Had no idea my fiance was eligible for a SSN immediately or we would have done that. Anyway what is this I-94? We absolutely did NOT receive one when entering the country and CBP website just says no record found. The border guy just stamped her and her daughters(K2) passports and threw all the paperwork in the trash.

How do we go about getting the SSN now that we're married? I realize on the AOS paperwork there is a part that says to have SSN issued however for insurance we need it ASAP. Can somebody tell us how we can do this quickly or what exactly we must do now? We got married within the 90 days and now are just past it.

Thanks

Good day all!!

I wanted to give some pointers that I know are in the guides, but might be questioned when going through the process:
My fiancee had her interview in Kyiv early this morning and I thanked her for the information she provided me as I was going to pass it to here on VJ so that it would help couples.

One of the things she stressed was pictures. For Kyiv, we visited all sorts of random landmarks (motherland statue, Catacombs of the I cannot think but the cathedral, the glass bridge with the KIEV letters. recognizable stuff) and the embassy officer enjoyed seeing those pictures. So her encouragement to everyone is, "take pictures outside. If in Kyiv, take pictures at statues or landmarks that are specific to kyiv. If in RIO, take a picture of something specific to Rio." She mentioned Rio because a coworker of hers (colleague as she calls it) was there for a little bit.

She also said she thinks what helped our case was:
-We met in a 3rd country, but I traveled to Ukraine to see her. So it was not like we just met and I came to see the Mediterranean sea (because we met in person in Turkey September 2020 after talking on whatsapp/telegram since January 2020), I came to actually see her. (yeah I know i repeated myself. I am tired since her interview was 2:30am central time and I wanted to stay up and make sure she was ok ).

-She said financial documents were important (V2, VV2, wait no W2 it was cute to hear her say that so I had to post it, I-134, tax transcripts, i grabbed the transcripts from the IRS site. Saved me 5 pages of transcripts instead of 165 pages of my return, my letter of employment from my employer, almost mentioned my employer haha, my bank account statements, note i didnt say the signed one from the bank but just statements online i printed)
-The proof of relationship and ongoing that she brought? Nope not our chats, the man who printed documents for her forgot to print those. Nope not my intent to marry, they never asked for it. Photos and my paychecks. yes I said my paychecks. She said she was asked what she had proof of for our ongoing relationship and she handed them, my recent payslips. God bless her and her sweet Ukrainian heart.

My recommendation though, front load your I-129F petiton with photos, intent to marry (as this is required), even a little background on how you met (we both wrote our 2 page accounts. Or a page and a half at least. Send that all to USCIS and let them sift through it. We only sent maybe 10-15 photos of us. Then, when it is interview time, backload everything again. Updated photos, letters of intent, etc. Just do it so it is there. It might not even be looked at but do it. And yes, everything that is recommended in the guide here for the interview or what people have recommended from their own lists, do it. Then match it to the P3 you receive from your embassy (the list they provide) and take everything.

If your country provides original divorce decrees instead of certificates like hers did because she had a son involved with the divorce, prepare for a possible RFE during the I-129F petition approval process (before NOA-2 which is the approval letter of the I-129F), unless the translation puts in bold lettering the statement that this is the final paperwork. We were rfe'd and I kindly wrote a 1/4 page explanation and even took screenshots and drew circles matching the original and translation.

Best wishes to anyone who goes through the process It sucks during it, but man it will be well worth the wait. Unless of course your country is moving through spousal visas faster, then rock the spousal visa so your spouse can have the green card and not have to go through adjustment here

I have sent the K-1 visa petition to Texas and after two weeks I received the receipt notice from California Service Center. I'm in Atlanta, GA so just confused as to why they sent to the California center. Any ideas? If they take beyond 6-8 months is there anything a lawyer could do to move it faster and make the USCIS take action on our petition?

I just wanted to share something I came across while doing a backup of my pc.

I know my profile states CR1/IR1, but my wife and I went though the K-1 process first, in 2018. She came to the US on the K-1 in 2019 and we got married, but she had to return to Ukraine due to a family emergency. We started all over again with the CR1.

Anyway, one of the benefits of the Kyiv embassy is that they sent my wife (fiance at the time) a complete scan of the I-129F petition, with the markups and annotations made by USCIS and NVC. It seems USCIS focuses on a few key details, which they circled or hand-marked (the new A-number for my wife, as an example). I thought I would share with those who may be interested.

1. Header "USCIS section"

2. My divorce information

3. If I ever petitioned before

4. My fiance's A-number designated and filled in by USCIS

5. If my fiance was previously married:

6. Information of how I met my fiance within the last 2 years: