Sunni

You will also need to put a birth certificate in with the childs package or you'll get an RFE like I did......see sec. 8 I think it is in the instructions on how to file for a Step Child.....

Thank you! What's sec 8 though??

I got my visa today!! I opened the envelope and found our passport and two envelopes and I thought: why do they give me two envelopes??? All I hear is you get one envelope with DO NOT OPEN on it. Why do I get two? What's wrong with me?? (Oh,ey ok it's my sons papers it's all good!!!) Happy dance!

Can't edit on cell phone: found our passportS of course...

Woohoo! Congrats!!

Someone mentioned to me that we should apply for the I-485 too? Is this necessary and/or faster?

If he's your husband I'm assuming CR-1/IR-1 is what you're going for, right? In that case he still needs to fill out a form I-864 himself. In addition, you need a sponsor to meet the income requirement since only current US income can be used (If you're a household of 2, the requirements are currently $18,912 for the lower 48 states, $23,650 for Alaska and $21,762 for Hawaii). Any US citizen or LPR can do this, doesn't necessarily have to be a family member - Just remember that they are taking financial responsibility for you.

They'll fill out a form I-864A to be filed along with your husband's I-864.

Wow, thank you so much!!

Since we'll be a household of three, we'll need a little more than that I presume? Yes, we'll be going for the CR-1/IR-1

Your husband will file two I-130; one for you and one for your daughter (I am assuming she is NOT his bio daughter). Two petitions, two bio sheets, two fees, but can send everything in one envelope.

Regarding the affadavit of support, your husband has three options:

- leave first and get a job in the USA, so he has paystubs to give you in time for interview.

- Sponsor on assets; will need at least 3 times as much as income, so around $75'000.

- Get a co=-sponsor (that is what most people do); a US based USC or greencard holder who will stand guarantoor for you.

Thank you! (I'll be moving to Arkansas too!!)

Do we need to include a passport photo of my daughter too?

I have another question -

What do I have to do (different), since my USC husband is living with me in Sweden? Affidavit (finance) must come from some of his family members then I guess?

Hi!

We'll be filing for the I-130 as soon as possible, or - my husband will file one for me, and one for my daughter. It's not entirely clear to me what we need to do for my daughter? She's 4.

Also, he's living with me in Sweden, how do we do it with the affidavit? Since he doesn't have a job in the States?

Thank you!

Here is a little tip for you guys not over here yet! Here you have to build your credit, and it doesn't work at all like over in Scandinavia. The easiest way is to be put on your partners account but if you are like me, independent and stubborn there are other ways ;-) There is something called a secured credit card, you " charge" it with $300-2000, you decide the amount. Then that will be your credit, you use it every month and pay it off. After a year your bank will transform this to a "normal" credit card and you will get the money that you put in in the first place back.

Even if you don't really want a credit card this is the easiest way to build your credit!

Does this mean I could start building credit while still here in Sweden??

Thanks Borkstrom and MissK. Very good analysis! I'm definitely not going to walk in there like I own the place haha. I'll be nervous as ever - I think mostly everyone is whether you interview in Sweden or Nigeria. While I know I have a real marriage and no criminal record or anything to that nature, the very thought of one CO just having the ability to so drastically alter your life, marriage and future is a scary one. Or maybe it's the thought of all you've sacrificed, all the waiting, missing, Skype chats and telephone conversations.. All the planning.. Finally boiling down to one, short interview.

As far as "pre-approved" goes, I definitely know of one interviewee personally who saw an "APPROVED" stamp on their file before the interview started. If you read through many of the consulate reviews for Stockholm here on VJ too, I've seen it mentioned.

One immigration attorney once told me that most post-NVC processing done on your case in 1st world countries is administrative - entering it into the system. She also told me that most COs literally have a time frame of 15 minutes to go through your case, ask you questions, approve/deny and call "next." From MissK's post it definitely sounds like they hadn't severely scrutinized it

So whether it is just a formality or not, I guess we won't know. Either way, that interview is probably the most important interview of our lives.

My wife "lived" with me in Norway for 3 months. She didn't have a resident card or anything though - Norway's minimum 3 years of 250 000 kroner income requirement to sponsor made sure of that.

I hear Sweden has pretty relaxed rules, Norway has very strict income requirements and Denmark is supposed to be very strict altogether.

You'll be fine though. The fact that he's living with you in Sweden should shorten the process by 3 - 4 months! The USCIS has had a trend the last year of approving I-130 petitions much faster when the petitioner is living in the beneficiary's country.

My best advice to you - file the I-130 as early as possible, and read the LingChe guide 5 times to familiarize yourself with the NVC process. Actually, study the LingChe guide like you're taking an exam on it! This forum has helped me tremendously.. And saved me $4000 in lawyer fees!

Velkommen til VJ!

Sweden does have pretty relaxed rules, thank god... Otherwise it would not have been possible for us to do it this way. Thank you so much for the link! So much information to go through... Great place to start!! Have you guys all moved already?

No you may not!

Just kidding. Welcome to VisaJourney, and godspeed with your application.

lol

Thank you - I'm hoping it will be a smooth process! Was super-easy getting my husband a residence card here in Sweden, chances are it wont be THAT easy the other way around He didn't even have to be interviewed!

And may I ask if anyone here is/was living with their spouse in Scandinavia when you applied??

Heeey! New at VJ - Norwegian living in Sweden here Will be filing the I-130 as soon as I get the cash to do it!