Natureboy

I think you are confused in a couple of ways.

Firstly, she is liable to US taxes, which must be reported on form 1040 (or 1040EZ or 1040A). Your comment about "the green card test" seems confused. The green card test is about whether she has to file US taxes or not. By having a green card, she is required to file taxes. What you talk about for "thresholds" relates to whether she (or both of you together if married filing taxes jointly) need to report foreign assets on forms 8938 (FATCA) and/or FINCEN 114 (FBAR), in addition to filing taxes on form 1040.

It is possible that she doesn't reach the income level required to file a tax return, but bear in mind that level includes foreign-source income.

Secondly, for tax purposes she is your spouse not your dependent. Examples of dependents are children (most often), or elderly parents, not spouses. Getting her an SSN will not make her eligible to be your dependent because she's your spouse. She will need an SSN for you to file jointly or for her to file married filing separately.

This is all fairly basic information that your CPA should have made clear to you if you gave them as much information as you provided here. If your CPA is advising you to claim your spouse as a dependent, you should fire them.

Her social security card should not take 3 months to come. It will depend on your local social security office to some extent, but it is likely to be nearer two weeks.

Sorry to make you feel I was confused...that was not my intention. Zero income for two years both in China and in US qualifies my wife for zero income. I am merely trying to help others with my experience. It will apply to few because most of you are young people with a career in front of you. My wife and I have our "working for money" career behind us and hopefully I have saved enough money to take us to the end. Time to volunteer and give back money and time. I should not have replied to these as quotes but added a response to the question. I am having to give the same answer several times. Yes looking back I was stupid to file her as my dependent. Corrected return...129 bucks plus interest and the IRS has signed me off for 2013 taxes.

We will file returns as required by the IRS. Always have. With the information you and others have graciously provided I feel more confident about making decisions and responding to questions if asked. I retired in 2000 and policies change, part of the reason for asking people such as you for your experience. Trying to make sure the CPA is informed as best as possible. With so many agencies in the US government it is often difficult to determine exactly what each wants until they ask. Often in the past that has been the best policy. This is not about money it is how much money does it cost to keep our lives as simple as possible.

I hope one day I can be as helpful to you. Have a great weekend.

The 10 year restriction is for an ex-wife who has not remarried to draw benefits on your record.

The Bank of America fees on CCB ATM withdrawals began in Dec., 2013.

You can choose to follow the law or not. Either way, I suggest you read up on it.

Also Google "life without social security number".

Good luck

Oh wow so much good information. I think all my question have been answered and I am better informed to make decisions. Yes "be very careful about.....".

I think that is where we are. We are older and like to travel and are never home for more than three months. Tax returns get extensions because neither of us make any earned income and we are usually in China on April 15th. I get a SS check and Aiping has never had a job in the US so no income in US, ever. The process seemed to take so long for almost two years with USCIS and I needed to always be near the primary mailbox to fill out immigration forms that now we have her green card we do not want to waste a day sitting still because life is short. You never knew if you would get a letter in the mail in two weeks or two months you just knew you had to stay near the mailbox. People with the IRS, those with the SSA and let's not leave out the USCIS have difficult jobs everyday. They are good people with no axe to grind. There is little communication between agencies so each of us must be careful the choices we make. Honesty first but as someone said maybe good to wait for someone to ask for information first rather than always thinking we have not given enough already.

I appreciate your time and thoughtful comments. We both feel better about our choices after reading your comments . There is nothing to hide (We could only wish). We are an older couple and most of you are younger couples that will make their life in the US and both have careers. With nothing to hide I want to believe America is still a democracy of free people. Our careers are in the past and now it is just us, grandchildren and taking care of our elders. My wife is English challenged and would have difficult time here ,even though she has a car and drivers license, her own car insurance and has made it clear if something happens to me she will immediately return to China and family there.

I did google "life without a SS card" and could find nothing that would benefit Aiping except survivors benefits and I know if I died she would return to China and would loose that benefit. We have a large Chinese community here at the University. We have dinner together on Friday nights at a church. I will have Aiping talk with friends there and also on QQ. All are still working at the University and are much younger so I don't know how much benefit that would be but I will try.

When I read the info on Chinese hukou you gave us the link I became concerned. Aiping worked 28 years in China and they certainly did not turn down money for the two additonal years I paid for so she could retire in 2015. About 8,000 USD. Could she loose her Chinese residency and retirement because she is living in the US? These questions make me be patient and wait for someone to ask us more questions. So far no problems in China and no problems in US or any other country we have visited. She keeps her Chinese passport and her Chinese Papa's name. We are so lucky to have found each other.

Thanks again and may your life and that of your families be blessed

I don't understand the question, or why you're asking it.

All permanent residents of the US are subject to US taxation, unless there is a specific tax treaty exception. As you can see here: http://www.irs.gov/Individuals/International-Taxpayers/Alien-Residency---Green-Card-Test

This means she has to file her US taxes each year, unless she really doesn't make enough money to do so. This seems unlikely, given your posts. To file her taxes, she needs a taxpayer identification number, i.e. SSN or ITIN. As you say, she can't apply for an ITIN, because she has a green card. Therefore she must apply for her SSN and then file her taxes.

The rest of your post seems to just you explaining why she wouldn't be inconvenienced by breaking the law. Or am I missing something?

Yes my CPA has given me this same info and no she has never made worked or made any money in the US. We meet all thresholds for reporting any money we have in foreign banks outside of the US. We are not wealthy people nor do we have money to evade taxes (I can only wish) They are looking for people in US with 50K plus in a foreign bank that has not been reported. She meets the green card test because she has received no income from China, no gifts in US or China, has not made any income in China or US.

This began when we got an extension on our 2013 return (the first return she would be a dependant) so did not file until July 2013 since we had been in China.

I should have known better than to file jointly with claiming her as a dependent. It was a lousy 129 bucks savings. Kicked back of course because just being my wife does not make her a dependent unless she has a SSN or ITIN not the USCIS#. I will file jointly again but I will claim zero dependents and all will hopefully be well. It was solved when I sent the 129 bucks with interest and that was the difference claiming her as a dependent.

The long and short is she can be on a return but I cannot claim her as a dependent unless she is making money and gets a SSN . We travel lots and these agencies use snail mail and by the time we have returned to primary mailing address a time to respond period has expired. When we find a time we stay in one place for 3 months might be a good time to apply for a SSN

Thank you for being so very helpful with information and have answered any questions I have currently. I wanted to make sure we were legal and after reading everyone's informative posts with links both my account and attorney are convinced we are legal.

Yes we were aware of BOA selling their interest back to China Construction when we went in Jan 2013 to May 2013. We incurred no fees. It is still the best link with US bank I think as far as security. That has always been my concern in mainland China banks not Hong Kong banks.

Yes you are correct there is a collaborative effort to stop the movement of taxable income out of America into other countries. Although Apple, Boeing, GE many, many government contractors have bought companies in Ireland and have done what is called inversion. There are Trillions of untaxed US dollars in other countries legally because of this loophole. Apple alone owes 47 Billion in US taxes if the money was not sitting in Irish banks.

Simply China wants taxes on income made in China, America want taxes on money made in America. In business it becomes complicated when you fully understand NAFTA and free trade zones.

My question was not "how do I avoid paying taxes on income?" I do not wish to be an Apple or Boeing or GE that wishes to enjoy the freedoms in the US but also wishes to defraud the government that allowed this profit opportunity. Another subject.

My question is my wife required to get a SSN? Any income she makes will stay in China and will be subject to China taxes. No she is not giving up her Chinese hukou. There is absolutely no benefit because she only makes a small amount of money in China and files papers every year to disclose that income. Any income I make will stay in US and I will pay US taxes on this income. Not that it is a big deal but we were given written notice we must be married and living together for 10 years in before she could receive SS spousal benefits.Don't really care just shows me how confused our government workers are about the laws effecting immigrants.

I think the best thing is no SSN and just be dumb!!

Yes the verbage in most US laws is very broad so they have the freedom to do with the small person whatever they want much as China has been doing for centuries with their autocratic control of the masses.

I have been buying from China for 25 years when I attend the Canton Fair.

My wife got her green card with an issue date of 12/31/2013. She came from China on a K-1 VISA Dec 2012. We married in February 2013 and made application for her green card.

We have business in China and she will begin receiving China retirement money in Jan 2015..we maintain a bank account in China in her name.

She has no plans to work or go back to school as we are both older. My income is passive income so the savings to file a joint return is only about $125 per year if she has a SSN.

She has not made application for a SSN and I cannot find reason for her to do so unless someone can enlighten me.

She got her drivers license, insurance in her name and was able to open a bank account in her name with Bank of America that has a relationship with China Construction Bank. Has wired money with the China Construction Bank in Harbin. Never needed a SSN yet.

If I die she has been clear she will return to China. We must be married for 10 years for her to draw my SS and I am certain they would find some reason to refuse to pay her. Anyway she has plenty of money and would not need my SS retirement check.

I can find nothing in the immigration process that says she must apply for a SSN. She retained her fathers name as is custom in China. I can see that creating difficulties also with SSN.

She does not want to loose her Chinese retirement income.

We also have investments in China and she trades the Chinese stock market and files an annual return there.

Would someone enlighten me with a reason that she should have a SSN. She needs nothing they provide and she will never make income while in US.

We keep money in both countries

In short there is no financial advantage except the 125 bucks a year savings.

Cannot file for W7 because she can get a SSN. Once she gets a SSN a tax return will need to be filed every year and she thinks could effect her Chinese retirement income. I would not doubt the two govts communicate using the SSN. I have an extended stay VISA to China so not a problem how long I stay. Work with some companies there. They wanted me to get Chinese ID but I keep putting them off.

If someone sees something obvious I am missing I would appreciate very much your insight.

Thanks

My bride to be from China has just received her packet 3 from Embassy in Guangzhou. She said in an email that in packet three there was a letter giving a bank account number to go to a Bank in China and deposit to this number the sum of 932 RMB and they would give her receipt for these embassy fees This would be the only notice she would get and if fees were not paid she would not get interview. I have looked in many places on this site and the NVC portal with USCIS case #, GUZ case number and an invoice to pay fees but only with an invoice. Your info here says that bill must be paid in US dollars from a US Bank. I cannot find anywhere that the beneficiary must put money in Embassy bank for interview fees. The 932 RMB's. This is my first time and I may have missed that information. Yes by the way we have applied for K-1 VISA and now have NOA1, NOA2, NVC paper showing case number. The beneficiary in China has received packet 3 and packet 4 was sent by email with the URL for the forms to print and complete.

We emailed NVC the form to make me her agent and any invoices would be sent to me. Did that when we got packet 3. The emailed back that they no longer had anything to do with the case because it now had been sent to Guangzhou. I do not want her to get scammed and I do not want her to have problems other than interview when she goes to Guangzhou on 6 December for interview. It is just a simple K-1 VISA no children just the beneficiary in China. Thanks everyone for the help you have given us to this point now if we can each get some sleep for the next month that will be GOOD!!

I am the petitioner and received NOA2 Sept. 18, 2012, at my mailbox in US

On Sept 27, 2012 received letter from NVC saying received and approved I-129F

The letter had my INS Receipt Number from receipt of NOA1

The letter also contained a Case Number for Guangzhou embassy GUZ2012768057

and the address of the embassy that it would be processed in China

My fiance' received a phone call from embassy in Guangzhou confirming her mailing address on Sept 29, 2012

My fiance' received a packed on Oct 1 in China requesting she send only DS-230 and then the list of other documents she would need when assigned an interview date.

Now my question: Neither she nor I have received an invoice from NVC which you say must be paid from US bank. I try to sign in to "Invoice Payment" portal and do and ACH but I have no invoice identification number. Everything happened in less than two weeks from the time of receipt of NOA2 from VSC. I get nervous when things go too quickly. When will I get an invoice????? If I do not get an invoice and she gets an interview scheduled will they deny her when she travels to Guangzhou for invoice not being paid????

9/18 NOA2 VSC

9/22 NVC receives approved I-129F petition

9/27 NVC assigns Case number and China Embassy has approval from NVC next day

9/28 Beneficiary from China receives phone call from GUZ (embassy)

10/1 Beneficiary from China receives packet

NO INvoice

My email is ifihadwings.today@gmail.com

GUZ IV has no fax # for intake.

Instead, call into NVC, inquire how to cancel, and do exactly what they tell you.

If they are stumped, you'll need to email GUZ IV and cancel the petition.

re: her plan - is frought with errors regardless, as WHEN she comes into the USA, she has to:

1. get married to you

2. file for Adjustment of Status

3. receive greencard

and

1-3 takes anywhere from 4 to 12 months.

If she turns around same day, she loses all , as the K-1 is 'single use only'

and

she has no further basis to enter the USA. To 'come back' you'd wind up filing a I-130 petition, followed up by a visa application for a CR-1, with another interview in Guangzhou. I have some sense that you really don't want to do that.

Good Luck - what ever she decides. If she's taking advice from the harpies at the 001 BBS, tell her to tell the Aunties that Uncle Darnell say hullo.

I did not realize the K-1 was a "single use only" Only received NOA2 on Sept 18th and she already has packet from GUZ embassy received today. I was thinking there was a fee I need to pay NVC or GUZ before they would send packets to Beneficiary. I need to go back and look because they would accept this payment by ACH transfer from my checking account. I have only paid Vermont thru Texas lockbox no other funds have been sent to UCSIS, NVC or GUZ. I think she is under impression she can get VISA and then just go back and forth to China. Also another question: If she does get to US and I do not marry her in 90 day period does this also not void the K-1? Thanks for helpful information

When we received our NOA2 my beneficiary informed me she wanted to come to US and get married after getting VISA then immediately return to China and work out her retirement until age 50 for her. That would take two years. I have job, house and investments in US so I have no choice but to live in US. I said no. Need to cancel K1 process. Do not trust what next surprise will be. I am 65 and two years long time. Help please

We received our NOA2 two weeks ago and now my beneficiary wants to continue with K-1 VISA but wants to come to US and marry first week then return to China for two year's to finish her retirement with government. In China retire at 50 years old. My answer was no because I provide our income and I am only one with home and I live and work in US. I am 65 and two years is a long time. She has been called by embassy to expect a package and I received NOA2 letter. If she gets VISA in Guangzhou how long does she have until she must marry me. I will not marry her and be in US for two years while she is in China for two years. If the case is that we must marry then how do I stop the VISA process now. I have not paid any fees and I have not received anything from NVC. If I do nothing will the process just die or am I liable for anything at this point. I have made several trips to China for a month at a time and this was a surprise. Some advice from wiser than I am would be appreciated. At this point I do not know if I can trust her so I really just want to cut my losses and stop this K1 process with me being the beneficiary. Her English is very poor and I got an interpreter to help but I still hear she wants to come back to China after marriage in US.

Thanks in advance for help

You're right - there's no choice. I do try to stay focused on the long term, and for myself I can deal with it. But our baby is 13 months old tomorrow and has never met his daddy. Those 3 or 4 months extra just for being at VSC are *huge* in his life, even though they're just a blip for us adults.

Just trying to be as patient as I can.

Good luck to you

M

Subject: Help keep legal immigrants out of limbo

Hi,

I signed a petition to The United States House of Representatives and The United States Senate which says:

"We and our families have been waiting too long for our immigration petitions to be reviewed. Speed up processing the backlog of applications (specifically at the Vermont Servicing Center) so we don't have to wait to be with our families"

Will you sign this petition? Click here:

http://signon.org/sign/help-keep-legal-immigrants?source=s.icn.em.cp&r_by=5395562

Thanks!

When I first submitted mine, it estimated July 17. Now, it says September 7th.

You can't reach the finish line when it keeps moving.

Subject: Help keep legal immigrants out of limbo

Hi,

I signed a petition to The United States House of Representatives and The United States Senate which says:

"We and our families have been waiting too long for our immigration petitions to be reviewed. Speed up processing the backlog of applications (specifically at the Vermont Servicing Center) so we don't have to wait to be with our families"

Will you sign this petition? Click here:

http://signon.org/sign/help-keep-legal-immigrants?source=s.icn.em.cp&r_by=5395562

Thanks!

James

I am not trying to start a fight and know I haven't been waiting long but I was wondering if anyone thinks Vermont is going to pick up anytime soon. I have seen that Vermont has been giving out a lot of NOA2 these last two days and was just hoping that Vermont is pulling out of its slump. I was just wondering if those of you who've been on vj for a while seeing how both centers go slow and then are normal again... how long does it usually lasts. I am going to visit my fiance during the interview since we are going to say goodbye to his family and have a goodbye and engagement party. I was just trying to plan accordingly since my boss is freaking out. He told me I can go anywhere from December - February. But I am a little nervous that if Vermont stays at this pace I would have to ask for off in March or even April. My boss literally asks me everyday and doesn't take I don't know as an answer. lol so any help would be appreciated. I received my NOA1 on June 27th and right now my estimated timeline says my NOA2 should arrive Dec 29th. When I first sent out my packet it was Nov 27. lol So I am just curious.

Thanks guys!

My friend VSC has been processing Feb 6 applications for over a month now which means they are not processing any K-1's that would reduce the volume to get them past the Feb 6 date. This means if they started tomorrow picking up the number of applications processed at best you are looking at 5 months to get NOA2. Then you are looking at least three months to interview then God knows when you will get VISA in passport. They have promised a week in snail mail but have seen applicants make plans and buy plane tickets to come home and a month later still no VISA to bring bride home. So if this trend does not continue and there is dramatic improvement you could look at April 2013 to May 2013. The Obama Dream Act has put a tremendous burden on VSC and also Syrian immigrants. Those of us who have paid and purchase plane tickets and pay gov fees are just SOL. Please sign this petition. This is the American government and we know this will probably do no good but at least it helps to vent.

Subject: Help keep legal immigrants out of limbo

Hi,

I signed a petition to The United States House of Representatives and The United States Senate which says:

"We and our families have been waiting too long for our immigration petitions to be reviewed. Speed up processing the backlog of applications (specifically at the Vermont Servicing Center) so we don't have to wait to be with our families"

Will you sign this petition? Click here:

http://signon.org/sign/help-keep-legal-immigrants?source=s.icn.em.cp&r_by=5395562

Thanks!

James

We paid fees for services that we expect to be rendered. If VSC hired one of us a a private contractor and we did not deliver as per contract we not only would not get paid we would be fired. VSC has been dealing with the same variables for years and have consistantly processed those applicants that have paid money and filed the necessary forms. The Dream Act and the Syrians should get in line just like the rest of the world population. Usually it is an American citizen that is petitioning VSC, paying the fees, filing necessary paperwork because we speak English, and now we have lost thousands of dollars in plane fares planning our ahead to be lied to by our own government. We have agreed to provide support financially, we have agreed to marry on a K-1 so the US government does not have a foreign immigrant on the welfare rolls. Do they require any of this in the Dream Act or the Syrian immigrants? I think both VSC and us as US citizens have been ignored by our current administration in favor of political pandering. How do you plan ahead when one center is over 40 percent ahead in processing time and one center has for all practical purposes stopped processing and have given the same processing date for a month now. That date is Feb 6, 2012. The American way.... If we are here now with processing what will be the processing times when the volume of work increases 50 times with the Dream Act applicants. When we applied we were told they would be processsed in the order they were received. How did that change for those who do not follow the same path of immigration as we have been required to follow. How did we get at the end of the line after all the work and money we have spent???? Is there a process for getting refunds and punitive damage? I am 66 now and if it takes years to get these processed I will need a nurse not a companion.

I understand your pain and anger, since we are all the same. My fiance even received an mail responded by VSC from our congressman (We contacted our congressman on July 25th) that "Due to workload priorities this application is still considered normal processing time". This is way too absurd. And we both feel disappointed by US immigration policy and bureaucracy at VSC.

Most important part is my fiance already moved to California in May. If we were able to transfer our application to California, probably we already get our NOA2 by now. It is so ridiculous that they would rather on hold instead of transferring files to CSC.

I have done an I-129F statistics calculation from USCIS website today. Seems they are currently working on Feb 6 (Receiving date from USCIS website) applications the most, and as of today, still 40 Feb6 applications pending out of 105 applications. No idea if your receipt NO is falling under this range. Hope you can get it in one week.

More good news

CBS news tonight....1.5 million illegal aliens line up in front of immigration offices to get free pass extended by President Obama. No fees, no financial support, no marriage and on and on. I feel like filing a class action law suit to recover the travel expenses, fees to service centers, time wasted and could continue my rant but it is the golden rule " the man with the gold rules". This has got to be a real black eye to our hard working immigration service employees to have a man in an election year pandering to the voting illegals when only 3 in 4 of our legal tax paying citizens that have graduated from college can secure a job. Soon we will add 1.5 million illegal immigrants competing for the few jobs available. We are having to show proof we can support our beneficiary, back accounts, assets, proof of meeting, and we must agree to get married and provide support for the the rest of his or her life. This Dream Act-Obama requires no financial support, no marriage,,,,NOTHING!!!!!! Is this part of Obama care economics that we now will save money by adding 1.5 million illegals to Social Security, Disability and the benefits of his health plan pain for by US tax payers since they were born citizens.???????We have to interview and have extensive and expensive background checks and wait patiently in line with all the other applicants that have filed legally to become US citizens. If they need provide nothing to show they can support themselves why are we putting our lives on the line with our assets and agreeing to marry in 90 days??? Really simple question but above our people in Washington. Only 47% of legal US Americans are choosing to marry today.....Does anyone else see the disconnect that has taken place under our nose. When will we take this country back??? This is no longer a country run by the people for the people. Can you tell I am past furious?? and I feel our rights as citizens have been violated since we choose the legal path. Does anyone know how to tweet Obama this rant? If you look at the number of applications each year at the service centers it is so small compared to the number of applications as a result of the Dream Act-Obama. They should go to the end of the line like we do if it takes 10 years but Obama needs the votes so we get to be the ones that wait and pay the fees. We have two choices, bad and worse (for president) You decide. I understand VSC is the only one that can process the Syrian and the Dream Act. I may not have that fact correct. If possible pleeeeese VSC ship some apps to CSC or just open the door and do away with the fees and the interviews and the requirement to marry and let us bring our beneficiary in the US same as this bunch. NOW!! Who thinks that will happen?

I agree with you. It is really furious to let VSC petitioners waiting and waiting for over six months, some even seven months while CSC only takes 3 months. We paid the SAME FEE!!!! At least get us back on track.

We also already tried congressman and senator, but it seems not working at all at VSC at this point. Shall we pressure VSC in another ways - media, contact USCIS director. If emailing Obama would work, I'd love to do that to end this endless waiting!

God bless all of our VSC applicants!!!!

CBS news tonight....1.5 million illegal aliens line up in front of immigration offices to get free pass extended by President Obama. No fees, no financial support, no marriage and on and on. I feel like filing a class action law suit to recover the travel expenses, fees to service centers, time wasted and could continue my rant but it is the golden rule " the man with the gold rules". This has got to be a real black eye to our hard working immigration service employees to have a man in an election year pandering to the voting illegals when only 3 in 4 of our legal tax paying citizens that have graduated from college can secure a job. Soon we will add 1.5 million illegal immigrants competing for the few jobs available. We are having to show proof we can support our beneficiary, back accounts, assets, proof of meeting, and we must agree to get married and provide support for the the rest of his or her life. This Dream Act-Obama requires no financial support, no marriage,,,,NOTHING!!!!!! Is this part of Obama care economics that we now will save money by adding 1.5 million illegals to Social Security, Disability and the benefits of his health plan pain for by US tax payers since they were born citizens.???????We have to interview and have extensive and expensive background checks and wait patiently in line with all the other applicants that have filed legally to become US citizens. If they need provide nothing to show they can support themselves why are we putting our lives on the line with our assets and agreeing to marry in 90 days??? Really simple question but above our people in Washington. Only 47% of legal US Americans are choosing to marry today.....Does anyone else see the disconnect that has taken place under our nose. When will we take this country back??? This is no longer a country run by the people for the people. Can you tell I am past furious?? and I feel our rights as citizens have been violated since we choose the legal path. Does anyone know how to tweet Obama this rant? If you look at the number of applications each year at the service centers it is so small compared to the number of applications as a result of the Dream Act-Obama. They should go to the end of the line like we do if it takes 10 years but Obama needs the votes so we get to be the ones that wait and pay the fees. We have two choices, bad and worse (for president) You decide. I understand VSC is the only one that can process the Syrian and the Dream Act. I may not have that fact correct. If possible pleeeeese VSC ship some apps to CSC or just open the door and do away with the fees and the interviews and the requirement to marry and let us bring our beneficiary in the US same as this bunch. NOW!! Who thinks that will happen?

More good news

CBS news tonight....1.5 million illegal aliens line up in front of immigration offices to get free pass extended by President Obama. No fees, no financial support, no marriage and on and on. I feel like filing a class action law suit to recover the travel expenses, fees to service centers, time wasted and could continue my rant but it is the golden rule " the man with the gold rules". This has got to be a real black eye to our hard working immigration service employees to have a man in an election year pandering to the voting illegals when only 3 in 4 of our legal tax paying citizens that have graduated from college can secure a job. Soon we will add 1.5 million illegal immigrants competing for the few jobs available. We are having to show proof we can support our beneficiary, back accounts, assets, proof of meeting, and we must agree to get married and provide support for the the rest of his or her life. This Dream Act-Obama requires no financial support, no marriage,,,,NOTHING!!!!!! Is this part of Obama care economics that we now will save money by adding 1.5 million illegals to Social Security, Disability and the benefits of his health plan pain for by US tax payers since they were born citizens.???????We have to interview and have extensive and expensive background checks and wait patiently in line with all the other applicants that have filed legally to become US citizens. If they need provide nothing to show they can support themselves why are we putting our lives on the line with our assets and agreeing to marry in 90 days??? Really simple question but above our people in Washington. Only 47% of legal US Americans are choosing to marry today.....Does anyone else see the disconnect that has taken place under our nose. When will we take this country back??? This is no longer a country run by the people for the people. Can you tell I am past furious?? and I feel our rights as citizens have been violated since we choose the legal path. Does anyone know how to tweet Obama this rant? If you look at the number of applications each year at the service centers it is so small compared to the number of applications as a result of the Dream Act-Obama. They should go to the end of the line like we do if it takes 10 years but Obama needs the votes so we get to be the ones that wait and pay the fees. We have two choices, bad and worse (for president) You decide. I understand VSC is the only one that can process the Syrian and the Dream Act. I may not have that fact correct. If possible pleeeeese VSC ship some apps to CSC or just open the door and do away with the fees and the interviews and the requirement to marry and let us bring our beneficiary in the US same as this bunch. NOW!! Who thinks that will happen?

I agree with you. It is really furious to let VSC petitioners waiting and waiting for over six months, some even seven months while CSC only takes 3 months. We paid the SAME FEE!!!! At least get us back on track.

We also already tried congressman and senator, but it seems not working at all at VSC at this point. Shall we pressure VSC in another ways - media, contact USCIS director. If emailing Obama would work, I'd love to do that to end this endless waiting!

God bless all of our VSC applicants!!!!

YEA!!!!! Vermont jumped 7 days forward in processing dates today!!!!!!!! California just 2 days. The olympics are now on between Vermont and California. To keep our minds busy each guess a date the two will intersect processing dates. If Vermont can keep this marathon jump they will overtake California in 8 days. There is a GOD. Place your bets and hope they continue to advance like today!!!!!! Can't believe I am writing this. Crazy?? YES definitely without a doubt this process is making me more crazy.- Think positive and only good will come from this right thinking. The Budda

Opps I was looking at K-3's by mistake. Two days for Calif. and one day only for K-1's for Vermont. I will still think POSITIVE!!

I agree with you. It is really furious to let VSC petitioners waiting and waiting for over six months, some even seven months while CSC only takes 3 months. We paid the SAME FEE!!!! At least get us back on track.

We also already tried congressman and senator, but it seems not working at all at VSC at this point. Shall we pressure VSC in another ways - media, contact USCIS director. If emailing Obama would work, I'd love to do that to end this endless waiting!

God bless all of our VSC applicants!!!!

I am also the petitioner of a lady from China. She and I are both older so yes these months are without value. Since I was there last in Feb. her father died. The employees in the VSC are just like you and all the rest of us. They have bills to pay and need to keep their job and I have never thought that the VCS employees are doing anything intentionally to delay the process of bringing us together with those we love. They NEED our help. Someone who is better organized than I am needs to compile a list of addresses of the DNC and since it is election year the Democratic committee should hear from many of us applying legally and paying with dollars earned in US and taxes paid in US that an unfair burden is being placed on the Vermont center and that this form of politics will not be accepted when it comes time to vote. We have spent money or should I say wasted money making plans on processing dates that continue to be given by USCIS in Vermont. Because we do not know for a fact what is causing the skew in processing times the only way to know how to help is to have knowledge that is based on fact and not hear say. If there is anyone reading this that has access to someone that can share factual information why Vermont is under so much pressure and not California then I will compile contacts with media, Democratic National Committee, USCIS director to let that person know we are in their court and wish to help not just criticize. I have not been able to get the directors name or mailing address for Vermont USCIS. We live in a country that is run by the people and not politicians. This is our right as a citizen and if we do nothing but SOH "sit on hands" then we do not deserve these rights. This can be fixed at least for those that come after us. Let us exercise our rights in a democratic fashion and together we can get names and addresses to contact.

Today CSC moved ahead another four days from March 27 to March 31 and VSC stayed at Feb. 12. Does anyone have a phone number that one could call and get some answers. Many of us are not rich and have purchased expensive plane tickets to be in the country of the beneficiary when the packets should have been received 30 days plus or minus to help get these processed and sent in a timely fashion to embassy. If this trend continues those of us who have scheduled time off from work and cost of lodging and airfare will be lost. The USCIS depends on each applicant to respond or complete an AOS in a window of time but it seems they do not hold the same standards for themselves. I am sure with technology available Vermont knew several months ago this situation was developing. Transparency would be a welcome relationship with those of us they are serving and paying their salaries. Always worked in the business world and never for the government. No wonder we had a crash in 2008. Communication in todays competitive environment with both customer and employees is the key to the success of all business. Someone mentioned earlier the DREAM act and I have suspected from the time of the announcement it would effect those of us who can already vote. Maybe none of this is effecting the processing times and the storms have just knocked the power off and someone has forgotten to turn the switch back on. It is not the increase in time but rather the USCIS site continues to give current processing trends as 5 months for our K-1's and this at the least is a 25% deviation from reality. The bright side of the coin is that NVC will be getting fewer approved petitions and will be looking for work and when we finally do get there should go quickly. Same for the US Embassy in the beneficiaries country. So let's all just think of the good and hope to live past this with fewer expectations from our government. They really have bigger fish to fry than a few couples wanting to immigrate and get married. Cheers to all and keep the faith.

Have posted same question several times without response. My thoughts they are voting Republican and funding and staff have been reduced so we all will put pressure to vote Dem. in three months. They were in position to win the gold in March when we applied for NOA! but don't think they will make the semi's in this Olympic year. We have our time table and they have theirs and I think they are still in charge so we just need to be patient and wait. I am sure there is a reason for no explanation and that they are doing the best with the resources they have. They have just gotten behind and difficult to catch up.

I have posted the same question twice in the last month since VCS processing times are approaching longer times each week. Something dramatic must have happened in the Vermont Center for the numbers to have become so skewed. I have posted two places but no response. I know they do the best they can with the resources they have so it will do no good for anyone to complain. I noticed a K-1 in the CSC that got their NOA2 in 37 days. So much does not make sense. I think the entire USCIS system is changing from manual type writers and brown envelopes to electronic processing and this may be part of the problem. If you call VSC they do not seem to realize there has been an increase of more than a month of the target processing time for K-1's so I will just be patient and hope I can keep all the paperwork together while they are sorting out their problems. HA!! If they can hold their own at this pace we can expect six to seven months to get NOA2 instead of the five or less. We had planned to be in US by Christmas and that was allowing two additional months but guess I will need to renew Chinese passport for 2013 and we will see what unfolds. You are just starting so take a pill and be patient. VSC is just processing Jan 9, 2012 applications now and has stayed there for several days. Let me know if you get some answers. Cheers and good luck.

Why is Vermont Service Center running so far behind California? Must be a logical explanation that they suddenly have fewer K-1 Visa's to process but jumped in last place a month or more behind California Service Center. Will this trend continue and the gap increase? It was so dramatic that I am just curious what administration in Vermont is up against that we do not know. Any information would be informative. Maybe an answer has been posted and I have missed reading. If so direct me to the explanation. Thanks again for your help in so many ways.