cathy2904

My husband had the same question about a minor crime 30 years prior to his application. But it was on his green card application and so of course we knew they already knew about it so he had to include it.

My husband renewed his this year and I think it took about three weeks. I know that he filled in forms online.

I agree, I don't think you will have a problem.

I agree, I never go to drive-thru windows. And I become overwhelmed anywhere that I have to make choices quickly: Subway, Panera, even Starbucks etc. I have to stand back until I have decided exactly what I want.

The friendship thing is still tough for me but I've been lucky because, although I fully expected to, I have never had a meltdown and wanted to go home

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People do it all the time. I had no issues doing it when returning from the UK and from Australia.

Our evidence was much like yours and we felt that it was pretty strong so we didn't include affidavits. We were approved with no issues.

In Georgia my DL was only renewed until the expiry date on my extension letter.

I use Transferwise and I am very happy with the service. The rates are good and they make a direct deposit so my bank doesn't charge me for a wire transfer.

When I sold my house and had a large amount to transfer I used a specialist currency broker. There are plenty out there. I used TorFX.

I did a similar thing to what you are proposing although we were not yet in the process of applying for a visa. My first stay was only about 56 days and my intended second stay was about 60 days. There was about a month in between the two visits. I was taken into secondary and waited for about two hours before I was seen. When I was questioned the main issue seemed to be that they could not see a return flight in their system. When I showed them that they let me through but told me that I would not be allowed in again without a proper visa. We got married on that trip and applied for the CR1; I went home as planned and did not try to visit again!

It's up to the officer you see on the day so no one can give you a guarantee, but I think that you will most likely be allowed in,maybe with a warning. The fact that you can show that you are in the process of applying for a visa should help.

If your other evidence is strong they are unnecessary.

They won't receive a their green cards until they are in the US. They will use the visa stamp in their passports to enter. Their passports will be kept by the embassy and sent back via courier with the visa attached. I guess this might cause a problem for travelling to Canada.

Unless things have changed recently, the visa will be valid for 6 months from the date of the medical so it will need to be activated before April.

Thank you for all you have done.

Good luck. My window opens in a few days too but I think I will wait until I get to the five year mark as it requires less paperwork.

USCIS Early Filing Calculator

http://www.uscis.gov/early-filing-calculator

I will go the same route. Cathy, with the NOA, did they renew it for a year only?

Yes, just for the year. I have my 10 year card now so I really must summon up the courage for another 2-3 hour wait and go over to renew again.

I didn't have to pay anything for an 'extension'. Just the $20 renewal fee.

It sounds like you have plenty of joint stuff so I wouldn't be too concerned. You have a good reason for not having a joint account so maybe you could explain that in your cover letter. We didn't have joint property when we filed but we explained why and we had plenty of other evidence. We had no issues with our approval.

They should let her renew with the NOA1 that extends her GC for a year. Georgia did for me although they messed it up the first time and only renewed until the GC expiry date - two weeks from the date I went in! I went back in when I realized and they put it right.

Your package sounds very much like ours with paper clips to divide the different types of evidence and a rubber band to keep the whole lot together. We were approved with no issues.

Good luck.

I got a few quotes and in the end used Bournes and had no complaints.

This may have been what you meant but you need to send copies of credit and debit card statements not copies of the cards. Send them from across the two year period, maybe one a quarter, and send the entire statement.

You don't need the marriage license.

Besides the ones noted, Bank of America

Same here, Bank of America added me with just my UK passport before I had any resident status.

We sent in all pages but only one statement per quarter.

They do now I believe; the paper ones got phased out. ]

They are being phased out but only on renewal so many people do not yet have a photo card license. The paper ones are valid until the holder's 70th birthday so if you don't change address or name or lose your license etc. then you don't need to renew and can keep the paper version.

I also use Paypal to send small amounts to my sister to give to my nephews on their birthdays. That is very quick.