GeorgiaPeach

Go get some sleep, it's late there!

Erg. I'm just worried because obviously us DCFers get to skip sending in relationship evidence with our I-130s with London. But that's what you did too... so maybe it's random? Or there was a flag there that neither of us can identify that I don't have?

Honestly, they're not going to RFE you for affidavits at the interview. I truly think that's something they would want in the beginning to verify whether they believe it is a genuine marriage. Getting past the I130 stage indicates that they deem you eligible to apply (meaning your relationship seems legit). Apparently, mine didn't seem so, lol, but like I said, it was very smooth sailing the rest of the way. At the interview tomorrow (I see your timeline now), you're just going to have to hand over your financial docs (I864/I864A, tax records), DS230 Part II, etc. They will likely ask you guys a few questions to verify what they already know, or ask questions to better understand the relationship, but all long as all your paperwork is in order and the finances are right to support your spouse, you really should not have any issues. In my case, I had written the affidavit about out relationship that they requested, and they were asking hubby questions to verify what I had said. They also asked him about a previous J1 visa he had to come to the states when we were dating. But truly, it wasn't that bad. It's intimidating and scary b/c it means so so much to you, but as long as you have a legit relationship and you have the finances to support your spouse and all other paperwork is in order, you'll be fine!

Oh. Huh. Well, that's stressed me out thoroughly. You're the first person I've come across who's been RFEd for that in London who has actually been living together (the other I saw, they'd only met once and married on that occasion - so I can see why that looked dodgy). I've never seen it in a requirements list - certainly not for DCF. Ugh. Now I'm super worried about tomorrow again.

Was that RFE at the interview, or the I-130 petition stage?

Don't let it worry you! The RFE was at the I130 stage, so if you're already going for your interview, you need not stress! I have no idea why we were RFE'd - nothing unusual about our relationship - we did the long distance thing for a while but had been married and living together for over a year in Scotland when we applied. It stressed me out at first, but I was able to get all the affidavits and copy of marriage license (not all states do marriage licenses btw...) and mail them all back within about 1-1.5 weeks.

Do you know why they RFEd you for that? That's quite unusual for London, going by the reviews.

No clue. Perhaps they requested for it from the beginning and I missed it? I read somewhere on the forum that if you've been married less than two years, and therefore getting the CR1, that asking for affidavits is more regular than if you were in the IR1 category. It was the only RFE we received throughout the process (that same RFE also required a copy of our marriage licence....which I thought was unusual, as I sent the original marriage certificate), and it was smooth sailing after that.

When I filed DCF in London, I received an RFE for affidavits, and they specifically asked for 3 from friends/family and one from myself detailing how I met my husband and our relationship from then until current. Everyone was also required to write something to the effect of, "Under penalty of perjury of the USA, I hereby declare the following to be true and correct..." at the end of their letter.

My father filled out the I864 as our joint sponsor. We did not combine my income with his, as the income was bring earned in the UK and would not continue into the USA. Therefore, it was solely his income being used to sponsor my spouse. It's also worth mentioning that we are living with him, too. It's my understanding that the I864A is being used when you are combining your income with someone in the same 'household' as you. To be safe, I had my dad fill out the I864 and I864A because I felt unsure, but in the end, the IO took the I864.

My hubby just got his 2 days ago, and we arrive May 28th. So that's roughly 6 weeks.

Thanks Nich-Nick.

Hello All,

Hubby arrived in the US about 2 weeks ago and had no problems entering through Seattle. He said the IO was very chipper and was cracking jokes, so he felt very much at ease. There was no problem with me not entering with hubby, and the IO really didn't even ask questions about where I was (I had already entered the States and was in another state).

My question now is, what do I do with the X-ray CD and the selective service form? The IO did not take these items. I believe when we applied at through London DCF, hubby signed 2 forms for the selective service - one of which they kept on record, so perhaps this is our copy? Just wanted to make sure I'm not supposed to be sending these items off somewhere that I'm not aware of?

Thanks

I didnt even bother bringing my x-ray disc last week (JFK) , nor was it mentioned. Just passport and sealed package.

$165 fee is nothing to do with your POE, so you dont need the receipt for that.

Wouldnt bother with the letter either personally- the only requirement is that you are in the country either prior to or at the same time as visa holders entry-poe in relation to place of intended residence is irrelevant.

Great, thanks for that mindthegap. Hope you're settling well!

There's no need to reprint the documents - that's actually what's in the sealed envelope![/quote

Cool, thanks!!

I don't think you need 5, but it can't hurt. They also likely won't ask for the x-ray disc or receipt for the $165 (they don't at JFK), but tell your husband to have them in his carry-on anyway. Otherwise it looks like he is set - the sealed envelope is the most important thing (plus passport obviously)

Thank you! I thought the signed letter was probably unnecessary, but I figured it wouldn't hurt, so no harm. Is it advisable to bring all of the documents used to get the CR1 visa in the first place, or are those no longer needed?

Hi Everyone,

Our time has come for hubby to enter the US for the first time with his CR1 visa. Can anyone verify I've got all the docs in order that he'll need?

1. CR1 visa in passport

2. $165 fee paid online (I have a printed receipt)

3. Sealed envelope from embassy

4. X-ray disc

5. Letter from me supporting his entry to a different location from where we're residing (I enter 2 days before him...he enters in Seattle then makes his way to Atlanta)

6. Signed letter for armed services (the one all men 25 under must sign)

Have I remembered everything?

Once we received our NOA2, it took another 4 weeks to get our case number, we booked our medical 4 weeks after receiving the case number (you can book with less of a time gap once you have your case number), I sent the DS230, part 1 and DS2001 during the wait, then we had our interview about 7 weeks after the medical. The whole process for us, start to finish, was 5 months.

We filed through London DCF back in Oct/Nov. processing times were quite quick then & they may just be taking a little longer now. It was 6 weeks for us from NOA1 to approval to move forward with the next phase, and this included an RFE for further documents. Wait the full 8 weeks & try to be patient (I know it's tough). You can call, but be aware it costs lots of money & then they give you a code to email your enquiry & it takes 7-10 days roughly to get a reply. I would follow up though.

Thanks for your reply.

Are you sure about what I've put in bold?

I've got this from another site:

I have had zero income, so not over $9,000.

Hmm, reading that makes me think I am incorrect in what I said. I just always read that you needed to file for your taxes while abroad, even if you weren't working. But that information you wrote makes me think you don't. Like the other person said, just make sure you provide an explanation of why you didn't file, which will be easy enough.

I struggled with what to put as my country of domicile as well. I think putting the US is fine, but make sure you have all the docs you listed. I would imagine they would want the most recent bank statements. You could also include your voting registration, if you voted from abroad this past election. Anything like car notes, proof of ownership of a car or active car insurance would be useful, too.

You will need to file for your taxes, even if you've been out of the US and/or not working. It is still a requirement. You can file for tax years that have come and gone, so I would go ahead and do that.

We were in the same position as you and had my dad fill out the I864. We had no problems at the interview.

Thanks Dave & himher for all the advice and reassurance! Much appreciated.

Yep. That is why he has a GC. The real limit is 1 year, but there are issues once you hit the 6 month mark. Less than 6 months and a single trip in a years time not a problem.

Have a good trip,

Dave

Thanks for the advice. Would this scenario be acceptable: hubby has to go back to UK after 3 months internship to tie everything up (say, he takes 3 months to do this), comes back to the US for 2 months (where he will live & work) then needs to make occasional trips to UK for business? Would immigration find this to be a problem?

Sorry for all the questions/scenarios. We're just trying to think through everything properly so that we aren't violating any laws/looking fishy to immigration.

You guys should be fine.

Though I have to say Seattle was never a fun POE for me even as a USC. I always seemed to get grilled there coming in from Egypt. I don't get that at other POE's.

Hmm, that's interesting. Thanks for sharing! Have you ever entered into Atlanta? If so, what was your experience?

Thank you both for your responses.

Say, after he joins me when the internship is finished & then needs to go back to the UK to participate in his graduation, and close his affairs, this is ok, as long as he isn't gone more than 6 months?

Hello VJ family,

Hubby received his CR-1 visa. I have a question about POE. I plan to fly out about 1-2 weeks before him into Atlanta (where we intend to live). Hubby plans to fly to Seattle where he has a 3-month internship opportunity. It is limited to those 3 months & after complete, he will join me in Atlanta, where I have a job. My question is: will it be a problem that I am in a diff state than his POE?

We have paperwork which states that the internship is 3 months only & paperwork which states that they will pay for his flights as long as they are into Seattle (we'd like not to have to pay for separate flights just for him to fly into the same city as me). We would also go ahead and purchase a ticket Seattle to Atlanta, to prove that he will join me in Atlanta once the internship finishes. I can also sign & send a letter w/my contact details as to why we are flying in separately and what our intentions are.

Is this feasible? Is it acceptable for the PR to fly into a state that is not their intended home without their USC spouse? Hope this all makes sense.

Hello All,

My husband's CR-1 visa was approved Friday. We were in and out in about 2 hours. I ended up collecting way too much evidence; none of the documents I collected to support the I-130 (besides the marriage certificate) or proof of domicile were requested. Additionally, my 2009 and 2010 tax returns, as well as our sponsor's, weren't even looked at. Better to collect too much than too little though! Now we just need to figure out what our game plan will be for jobs, moving dates, etc. Thanks for all the help along the way, everyone. I will still be popping in to help where I can, and may even have more questions as we continue our journey.

ya, it's not something to just jump on and do - you'll need to figure out if it makes sense to do it, both from a financial perspective (only you will know that) and a calendar perspective (as you can really only be outside of the USA after the first POE date for no longer than 6 months).

Very true. Thanks again!

well, there's moving, and then there's coming into a POE .

If it makes sense to hit a USA POE within the 6 month period and yer NOT absolutely ready to move just then - I suggest you look at that, do some computations with a calendar and financial forecasting.

Another interesting option to consider. Thanks for throwing the idea out there, Darnell!