ThrottleChunker

My Japanese wife and I have been happily living in the USA for almost 5 years.  She has saved quite a bit of money when she was working in Japan and has over $100K worth of yen sitting stagnant in three separate bank accounts in Okinawa.  We have two issues with this, Japanese banks give very low interest rates, so keeping her money there isn't doing much justice.  Also, it makes for filing taxes a bit cumbersome every year with the form 8938.  On top of that, we have to file the FBAR as well.  Not such a huge deal, just something I don't look forward to doing every year.  The other thing that's a bit troublesome is that she limited control to her bank accounts from here in the US.  Local banks there don't offer good online services if at all.

On the other hand, if we were to send money from Japan to here we don't have a good idea on what's the best way to do that to minimize the potentially massive hidden fees.  Plus, I'm not sure how the IRS would view such a large transfer of money from Japan to a US bank.  I'm afraid they'll impose taxes on it as if it were income...

Has anybody had experience with this?  Would it be better just to leave the money in Japan?  If not, does anybody have any advice on what's the best way to get the money from Japan to here?  And how to deal with the IRS?  Or maybe some advice on where's the best place I can ask this question?  Thanks all in advance for your assistance.

Hi VJ'ers!

I think this is a question more on wording. My wife has her immigrant visa in her passport and we are ready to travel back to the US. My question is, after we receive the "CR-1" stamp in her passport and would like to travel abroad prior to receiving the green card, are there any special procedures to be followed? My understanding is that the stamped visa will allow her to travel abroad without a reentry permit granted that the duration is less than 1 year. The exact wording from the documentation received from the consulate says:

"The immigration entry stamp in your passport may be used to apply for readmission to the US should you travel prior to receiving your Green Card"

What is throwing me off is the "apply for readmission" statement. I'm not sure what is exactly meant by applying for readmission... Does it mean there is a certain application form that must be submitted before readmission into the US? Thanks in advance for any clarification provided on this!

ya, you only have a small window for this, aye?

Sometimes it's hard to remember, coming off a long, grueling international flight.

Suggest you write yourself a note, paperclip it inside of the passport next to the bio page.

They usually not ask - you have to get the CBP officer's attention and tell them about the address change.

Done!

I sent in my tax transcripts. You can order them for free from the IRS website and they will mail them to you within a week or so. I am in Japan so it took a little over a week to get them. It may be the fastest to have them ordered to your mother's address and have her scan and send them to you via email. I did not send in my W-2's.

Thanks, I'll make sure to tell them about the change of address when the big day comes.

fix it at the POE <EOM>

This means they'll give us the option to change our address at the POE?

Hi VJ'ers! My wife's Immigrant Visa came in today at Japan. We currently live together in Japan and intend to live with my parents when we return to the US. When I put together our DS-230 package, I used my parent's address as our intended residence and for where to send our green card to. Now my parents are moving while we are still in Japan! I'm more concerned about our green card being sent to the old address... I would like to change the address where the green card is being sent to, but don't know where to get started... Can anybody provide some insight on this? Thanks in advance.

Hi VJ'ers! Like what this site advises, I called the NVC to check on my AOS and IV packages statuses. The NVC informed me that my case was completed on December 13th! However, I received somewhat of a puzzling email from the NVC today. They attached a letter with the subject, "I-601A PROVISIONAL WAIVER OF UNLAWFUL PRESENCE". The body reads as follows:

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This notice applies to you if you are currently in the United States, are or have been unlawfully present and plan to apply for an immigrant visa at a U.S. embassy or consulate abroad.

Beginning March 4, 2013, certain immediate relatives of U.S. citizens may apply for a provisional waiver of inadmissibility due to unlawful presence before leaving the United States. For more information, please visit immigrantvisas.state.gov.

Before filing Form I-601A, YOU MUST NOTIFY THE NATIONAL VISA CENTER (NVC) by emailing NVCI601A@state.gov. Failure to notify the NVC that you plan to file Form I-601A will delay your visa application.

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Admittedly, I was alarmed when I first read the letter, but after doing some research realized it doesn't apply to me and many of us on this forum. It applies to those who have been in the US without an IV for over 6 months and have to depart to their country to finish off the IV process. I'm sure many others on this site received the same letter and hope don't get too alarmed when they receive it.

Thank you so much , you and saylin made me feel 10 times better .. You guys are awesome .

So you can feel even more at ease I also had the same exact thing happen to me. That "Monday delivery" message is not the last status update. Just keep checking the USPS website with your tracking number. Once the package is picked up by the NVC, you'll still get a scanned proof of delivery receipt.

Thanks Ryan H. The NVC operator made it seem like nothing was sent to me and that my only option was to submit my package as is. Once the reviewers notice that the police report is missing, she said they will send me an RFE, which I can use to show to the Police Department. I'll do what you suggested, I have a feeling she is giving me bad info.

Hello VJ members! I'm live in Okinawa Japan and am wondering what we need to show the Police Department to get a copy of my wife's police report. They won't give it out unless we have a valid reason. I called the NVC for advice and they told me to go ahead and send in my package to them as is without the Police Report. She said that I can use the RFE resulting from the missing Police Report to show to the Police Department. Something just doesn't seem right about that... Is that how things are supposed to go?!

"Please submit a Legible copy of the "long form" birth document issued by the county registrar that shows both parents' full names and the informant's name and signature.

I provided a photocopy of ALL pages of my passport and they are asking me for this?! Thought that one or the other was fine, not both...

My assumption: Although my parents are US citizens, they are originally from outside the US. Due to that fact they want more evidence on me. A little biased if you ask me.

Thank you!

Hi all,

I'm hoping somebody can help me with what I'm hoping is a simple question. My wife is Japanese and we both currently reside in Japan. The complication is I'm not sure which address to use on the I-130 and the G-325a . I have my home of record address back in the States, my address on the military installation (FPO AP address), and lastly my house address (actual Japanese address). I'm not sure if it's that important, but I just want to make sure just in case. Thank you in advance.

Hi everybody, I've been lurking here for awhile and am hoping that I can submit an I-130 to the USCIS without any problems. We recently got married in Okinawa, Japan on 14Feb (Valentine's ). The problem is that although we're married by paper, we have not had our wedding ceremony. Therefore, I cannot provide wedding photos. We do have photos of us together throughout our relationship since 2007. Also, I plan on providing affidavits from two friends from the US and two friends from Japan (will be translated by certified person). I am hoping this will be enough? We do not have any joint accounts yet...

Also, we had about 40 (4x6 inch) photos developed, so it's quite a stack... Rather than just placing them in an envelope and submitting as a stack, I would like to somewhat organize them. Can I organize them in individual album paper and paper clip them to the I-130? I was also planning on writing the description of each photo on the back. I'm really nervous about this whole process...