Jasontnyc

• Do we also need to submit an I-485, or is that just is we are currently in the US?
  
• How much personal info do you include to show a bonafide relationship?
  

We applied for and were given De Facto relationship status by the Irish Gov last year, which was a somewhat similar process, but I imagine the I-130 process is more in-depth. My wife and I have been living together for a few years, but don't share a bank account or have joint bills, so our papertrail is sparse enough.

1.) The I-485 does not apply if the benifitiary is living abroad - The I-130 (CR1) is the right form in your situation

2.) Not too much. You will read about people submitting packages weighing 5 pounds full of relationship proof. This is really for countries where there is more scrutiny and typically they have met their husband/wife once in person after dating online. They typically provide Skype, IM etc proof. In your situation, you live together and have for many years. I provided my marriage cert, one document with both our names on it (was our mortgage) and our childrens birth certs. If you are living together, you are probably both on a lease/mortgage right? Can you get added to at least one bill so you are both on it? (ESB, etc)You could put a few pictures in your packet but 4 or 5 showing the extend of your time together would be fine.

I said it already in this thread, its a pretty straight forward process for a petitioner (USC) and beneficiary (Irish Citizen) living together in a Western European country.

So how do I go about tracking my packet thts sent to the embassy..... ?

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/194465-how-to-track-your-case-from-nvc-to-embassy/

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/302190-dhl-tracking-from-nvc-to-us-embassy/

how soon do you expect the interview date?

and how long did it take for the case to complete from the day you sent in the DS-230 Package?

thanks!

It's been taking about 5 business days for IV package review.

WOOOOOOO I RECEIVED THE INTERVIEW DATE TODAY WOOOOOOOOOO NOVEMBER 15!!!!

Congrats!!! When was your case complete?

It varies from embassy to embassy and also case by case. 3 people I know of went through the same embassy and one was told pick up Visa in 5 days, one in 7 days another in 2 weeks.

Some have been told come back in a week and it still wasn't ready. Thats why they say don't buy a ticket until you have Visa in hand. The Visa machine in I think El Salvador broke and people been waitiing over a month. So things are never the same.

Thanks - We actually bought the tickets a year ago for a holiday before knowing we would be going down this road. Pure coincidence that the interview may be a couple of weeks before the planned travel.

Hello,

How long does it take to get the actual Visa after you are approved? Let's say your embassy interview goes well, we get approved and all - how soon can you actually buy a ticket and come to the U.S. I am assuming that you don't walk out with your Visa on the interview day. Thanks in advance!

Exactly, they will send you your POE envelope (the do not open one) - I have only seen one person recently post about it and it was a few days but I imagine it varies by embassy.

I am interested in this as well as I have a related situation where I have airline tickets but wonder if there could be an issue if there is a week or more between the interview and the flight.

Case complete today! Got the standard answer as far as interview of it being scheduled next week for a Nov interview date.

This is great if all USC that live abroad will be expedited.But unfortunately I don't think that will be the case Some are lucky I guess?! Or maybe I am wrong?

Canada doesn't seem to count - There is also a new question about if the transferring of cases to NBC will mean no more expediting. VisaJourney is a small sample but this thread shows the consistency. I can say one thing for sure - You have a way better chance of getting expedited if you are a USC abroad.

You must live in the country legally for your case to be expedited?

I don't know - I live legally abroad but I was never asked for any proof so I can't see how that is factored in.

Egypt does not allow to be filed in Egypt. You have to mail it to the US even if you are living in Egypt. There are many people here that can give you the newer info on this. I do have a friend living there now and mailed her packet to the US address for those living in Egypt. Check the US embassy site for Cairo for that info as it can change.

Apologies - when I referenced applying from abroad I meant sending it into the Chicago lockbox while living in Egypt.

That's what I will do, I will go for 2 or 3 months and we will get marry there , but I don't know if I can file the I-130 from there, or if I have to come back to US and file from here.

It's faster if you file from abroad (like I did) but its a personal choice.

I am not quite sure I understand what is happening here.....if the foreigner lives legally in the spouse's country (for example myself living in Peru with my Peruvian boyfriend) they can expedite the CR-1 visa and it is done even faster? Is that what is happening here? How long is the average wait time?? I know normally it is 10 months but with this exception?

The NOA1 to NOA2 time is shortened from like 5 months (I think those that filed in April/May are now getting NOA2) to 3 weeks. The rest is just like everyone else.

It seems very inconsistent right now when using the email method. I ended up sending the physical copy as soon as got the NVC email and the was accepted before my email. If you send in the physical form they also tell you it's in the building so you at least know its only a matter of time.

canadian_wife: I was trying to show proof that I was living in a foreign country for 6 months+. I remember the website said I could only file from abroad if I lived in that country for that long.

dwheels76: was trying to show it for both

jasontnyc: ah I got it! Thanks for the advice. The only proof I have that I have domicile in the US is my family who I intend to move back in with =p.

Start working on getting more proof would be my advice. I provided the following and others can chime in:

Credit Card with US Address

Bank Account with US Address

Quote from moving company

Letter from parents/relative stating you will be living with them on arrival and have agreed payment

Anything that shows you are leaving (we had listed out house for sale so showed proof)

Email correspondence with a realtor in the US

Letter from my job conforming my plan to move (I am staying with the same company)

Voter card from US

Not all of these will apply to you but it gives you an idea about the types of things you can do

And when I say US address, it can be your parents address

in chile, the new certs (marriage, birth, etc) are all just black and white print-offs. (no longer special paper or color of anykind).

these are the "registered copies" from the civil registry. However, in making photocopies to send with the originals (so i get them back) i realized that my copy looks EXACTLY THE SAME.

Should I just send it in as-is and let the NVC decipher printer quality, or should I include a note? does it even matter?

Don't know but I used a color copier so mine look the same... I wrote copy on the one that was a copy. We shall see if that causes an issue.

Thanks for your input. Proving I was in Canada is quite easy! I have a whole life worth of paper trail that shows I was here all the time, and that I never overstayed my visa.

The question now becomes, how on earth can I be certain if someone has been using my ssn all these years? I tried asking for a credit report, but that requires a US address. which I have none!!

anyone familiar with this process?

I used a family members address to get my credit report - it was only used to send a hard copy to.

Is there anyone that can tell me what would happen next after NVC received my DS230 (Immigrant Visa Application) form? Is it possible to get this month's (October) interview schedule at the US Embassy here in Kuwait?

Your reply is very much appreciated.

Thanks.

It would help if you added your timeline. Officially the answer is no as the NVC says they only schedule interviews at certain times and you have missed the window for October interviews. You still have a chance for November though.

Unofficially many have said they schedule all month long and it really depends on the embassy as to whether you get a quick date or not.

I sent mine on the 22nd a day after I received the case number on the phone. I only received their official DS-3032 email together with the AOS bill on the 26th so I am a bit worried that they will reject the email I sent 4 days before that. The person on the phone at NVC told me that a generic email is not acceptable and that only the official DS-3032 sheet will get accepted (either scanned via email or via snail mail) - however, the story on the forums seems to speak a very different language. I am confused.

It is hit or miss these days it seems. The email "trick" didn't work for me despite emailing it twice - I ended up overnighting my 3032(the paper version) and that was what got accepted.

I live abroad and I didn't provide anything to prove non-US domicile...In fact I did the opposite. Used my address abroad on the I-130 and then showed proof of US domicile (intent) with my AOS. As a USC you need to prove you are living abroad temporarily and have always intended to live in the US.

And away we go - expecting to get case complete and possibly an interview scheduled in this months filers thread

We sent the ds3032 template and also Mailed the printed and signed form the day we received our Case Number; we received our AOS bill/email about 11 days later, and never received confirmation of the 3032. But at least we knew we were moving ahead.

I did the same - snail mail one was accepted before the email one as well.

okay guys i finally got case complete, we send email to expedite the interview and it was approved thank God. when my husband called NVC they told him to call back on Monday to know the interview date!!

I'm confused shouldn't NVC send my package to embassy first and then embassy schedule interview?or how is that work?

anyone knows how this work?

Usually the appointment comes first, then the package is sent. Not sure if that changes when expedited.

Very helpful thanks. I've been running my own business abroad for the last few years, so I don't have any w2's. What I will do is attach a copy of the audited accounts and the 1040.

Thanks that will save me at least 2 months.

The worst that can happen is to get an RFE for the transcript. Seeing as how you are going to need to wait for the transcript anyway, might as well take a chance.

Well, I thought I was doing great until only very recently.

I was under the impression that if your abroad the IRS due date was automatically extended to October. I only just realized that I needed to apply for that particular extension.

I have left it with my accountant and 2011 taxes should be ready for sending off soon.

As of now I currently have all my transcripts from 2010, 2009, 2008 - I have my I864 ready, and I have my mother as a joint sponsor in USA, who will separately send her very up to date I864.

My question is what will happen if I send my I864 with only the 2010 IRS transcripts included?

Draw your own conclusions but I hadn't done any tax returns ( I also live abroad) and I filed the last four years and attached copies of my 1040 and W2 equivalent and my I864 was accepted.

So perhaps just include a 1040 copy instead of the transcript.

I doubt you will get your transcripts in a week if you just filed - I was told 6 weeks since they need to make their way through the system.

I included copies of the tax forms I submitted and my AOS was accepted.

You also keep mentioning bringing things to the interview. if you live abroad, you need to attach intent for US domicile to your AOS. See the second post of the September Filers thread for specific requirements.

IV marked as paid and NVC received package (AOS was already accepted). Looks like there are 4 or 5 of us in this thread at the same exact point.