BOS_LHR

Welcome back, BOS! It'll be our turn next month!

Also, I just cracked up when I saw you still have the bees gif in your signature. Bahaha!!

I mailed our package today. Anyone else hit with a wave of anxiety thinking about the next 10-12 months under USCIS's thumb? Ugh. Well, here goes!

We live in Boston and have easy access to public transit, so even the one car we have is barely used. My husband hasn't gotten a driver's license or state ID - he just uses his green card if ID is necessary somewhere. Mortgage was obtained by me alone before I met him, utilities can only be under one person's name, etc. Feels like there's a lot I can't include.

I'll definitely be including monthly statements for joint accounts as far back as we have them, though. Cell phone and checking account are post-immigration but I think I added him to credit cards as soon as we got married. Too much of this financial comingling stuff requires a social security number, but I guess when they came up with the "from date of marriage" requirement they didn't consider married couples might spend a year+ apart waiting for a visa

Thanks Nice to see some familiar names around here!

For stuff I'm sending:

*Tax return transcripts 2013-2015

*Monthly joint checking statements

*3x 401k beneficiary designations between us

*2x IRA and one Roth IRA beneficiary designation

*Proof of joint medical insurance

*Proof of joint dental insurance

*Joint cell phone statements

*Proof of two shared credit card accounts (and statements from the one which is actively used)

I can add a joint BJ's Wholesale membership, evidence of postal mail sent to us both at a shared address, and possibly boarding passes from trips we've taken (would passport stamps work also?). I have life insurance through work so I need to figure out how to get some evidence of my husband being my beneficiary on that too. That's pretty much it though, and I feel a little shaky not having mortgage/car loan & title/car insurance/savings account in both names to add to the pile.

We're two weeks away from being able to file our ROC, and I'm nervous because I don't have my husband's name on the mortgage or car. I'd like to get some legal docs done up to help beef up the petition -- does anyone have recommendations for good online services they've used to create wills, powers of attorney, or other ROC-friendly documents? Thanks!

I'm so sorry I can't thank you individually right now, this is what my husband received after the interview.

What does a denial under INA section 212(a)(6)©(i) mean?

You were refused, or found ineligible, for a visa under section 212(a)(6)©(i) because you attempted to receive a visa or enter the United States by willfully misrepresenting a material fact or committing fraud. This is a permanent ineligibility, so every time you apply for a visa, you will be found ineligible for this reason.

You will be advised by the consular officer if you can apply for a waiver of this ineligibility. Review Waivers of Ineligibility for more information.

What is meant by misrepresentation of a material fact?

Misrepresentation means that you falsely presented facts and were not truthful in an attempt to receive a visa or enter the United States. A fact is considered material, as it pertains to this section of the INA, when, had the truth been known, you would not have been eligible to receive a visa or enter the United States.

He said we need more proof of Bona Fide marriage, I don't know what else we can give them. I am beyond devastated and just want to sleep for the rest of my life. They are sending us back to NVC. My worst nightmare has come true we are in AP. God bless you all for your prayers and kind words.

Oh Soloenta, I so hoped to see good news for you I'm so deeply sorry. There are many wonderful people here on VJ who have been through what you're now enduring, I hope with their guidance and lots of love from your friends and family that you'll get through this

Thanks Nich-Nick! Exactly right, the immigrant in this case is Hotter Otter. He's sitting next to me and just laughed saying you replied to my post, I laughed too because I was already typing my reply

I had filled everything out under the assumption he qualified, and entered something like "N/A - UK citizen" where it asked which visa allowed him to work abroad, but we needed a sanity check. Technically if his UK refund goes through there'll be 3 months of income that neither country taxes, doesn't seem like the kind of thing governments like to let happen. Very happy to have your reassurance we're on track. Your expertise is appreciated as always!

The basics:

-Married June 2013, filed MFS for that tax year

-UK citizen husband immigrated July 2, 2014

-Husband filed for a refund on taxes paid on UK income earned between April 1-July 1 2014, but nothing has been paid out as of yet

Now I'm filing MFJ for 2014. Since he's claiming a partial tax refund for his foreign income in 2014, do we not qualify to exclude his income from taxation on our US return?

If we can claim the exemption via bona fide residence, how do I handle Part II question 15 of the 2555? These questions make it sound like he's a US citizen with a work visa or similar allowing him to be employed abroad, which is of course not the case. TurboTax also asks for his employer information after going through the foreign income exclusion, I'm assuming that's in reference to his foreign employer rather than the US one he started with after immigrating?

Ah, ok, I see what's going on. Incompatible systems! I guess this happens to everyone who emigrates to the US then?

Mine wasn't truncated at all since my middle name is only 5 letters long. I take it that it won't be a problem, but I guess I won't know for sure until I start trying to go on the lease and get a job

Yeah, I think a lot of people let it lie and have no issues honestly. We didn't have the option because he literally couldn't get a social security number, his three names combined were too long for the system Very likely you'll be fine since they've issued you the SSN, but it's good to bear in mind your legal name may be first + middle instead of first alone. This system never stops being ridiculous! Congrats on POE though, I hope it's all smooth sailing from here

SSA was probably telling the truth, as it's a really common problem. CBP deferred inspection fixed it for us, but we had to have my husband's middle names actually removed from his record to get it done. I wrote about the issue and linked our resolution in my signature below. I know some people don't bother having it fixed, but that wasn't an option for us.

Adding: if CBP changes your name in their system, you dont need any documentation to prove it, social security will see it automatically when they query for you in their own system.

Good luck!

Awwww sweet heart thank you so much for thinking of us and coming to visit! How kind and thoughtful and I'm thankful for people like you who don't forget us.

Much love and hugs my dear friend.

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I couldn't ever! Hoping hard your interview is coming soon Soloenta, you've been through so much and still find so much in you to give to others. You've earned several lifetimes worth of good karma as far as I'm concerned!

MashAllah. Congratulations

SAMREEN! You made it out of NVC, congrats!! So very happy to see you here. Best of luck for a speedy and painless end of the process, I hope you're reunited soon!!

Happy belated Thanksgiving to everyone here. I couldn't help but think of you all during the holiday yesterday, I know how awful this time of year can be and I just wish so much better for all my fellow international couples. It's such a long, hard road, and missing special days together is salt in the wound. But you'll get there, and your happiness will be all the sweeter for the simple joys and deeper appreciation you'll cherish. I'm thankful to live in a world so full of love worth so much sacrifice. Hugs to you all

So so i may have a stupid question but i need to make sure- is there a fee I need to pay for the interview? Because when i went there for the J1 visa i had to pay interview fee of 160 dollars! Is there such a thing here????

Thank you in advanceee

There's no interview fee, but there's the $165 green card fee you'll have to pay after you get your visa back (and preferably before entering the US, as they won't give you your green card until it's paid).

It's about dang time they stopped demanding originals through mail!

Well guess what got optimized this morning! Maybe going to the office tripped the system? Who knows...

Funny story, my husband and I were walking out of the pub Saturday (Arsenal won, YAY) and the same Immigration Officer from Friday was walking in with his lady friend!

Great news, congrats! My husband's green card optimized 2 months and 3 days after his POE, and another UK VJer had an almost identical timeline to us... maybe it's a London thing Either way, glad to hear you're almost done! Won't be long now until he has it in hand

Yup. Still here :cry:

Yours was one of the first names I looked for NVC is unbelievable. No one from 2013 should be waiting anymore, let alone from so early in the year. This system is a disgrace

Hello my fellow and experienced NVCers!!!

I hope everyone is well and surviving the wait!

There may or may not be an issue with my case. I thought that i could pay the AOS and IV fees one at a time. But after I paid the AOS, the IV fee says 'PAY NOW' but when I click it doesn't let me 'SELECT' to pay.

Now that NVC has changed their process, does anyone know if we still have to wait 30 days for the IV fee to be available?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

~ Sofi

Generally the AOS and IV fees are only payable at the same time if you have a lawyer have not needed to submit the DS-261. For people without lawyers, once the DS-261 is processed the IV invoice will unlock for payment.

Hey gang! Work has been nasty for me the past couple of weeks but it finally let up long enough for me to check in here. Looks like NVC is still an absolute pit, I was hoping to see more veterans around here with CCs and interview dates I'm keeping you all in my thoughts.

i feel that MSP Immigration is not very modern, to take INK fingerprint for the green card instead of electronic? ... say whaaaaat?

i was about to have a heart attack when my ssc arrived and i saw that my middle name is cut. i went to ssa office and everything in the system was messed up, immigration put my first name and middle name together so the ssa system cut it, they also put my current family name as my maiden name, which is total BS.

ssa officer told me that they do this all the time. ssa asks them not to do this, but they do not care and most of the people that arrives to the US have to visit ssa to fix this.

according to my previous experience i wouldn't be surprise if those forms they were supposed to send to uscis were still on somebody's desk at the MSP.

Seconding NLR, the name issue isn't human error, it's a computer problem. CBP and SSA use different software that interpret names in different ways, and it causes problems for a lot of people.

What do you mean by MSP immigration???

Minneapolis - St. Paul POE

Thank you - I'm actually more nervous about the medical. Will be panicing until I get that bloody thing done now!

Ahh yeah, understandable. My husband was incredibly anxious about it too but it went great, he was really relieved to find it was sort of anti-climactic. Appointment availability is good and Knightsbridge sends results along pretty quickly too. It's a busy time ahead but it'll be over soon!

Just found out my interview at in London is 4th November.

Suddenly all scared after being sat in slow motion for so long!

Congratulations!! Don't be afraid of London, they're a breeze You're almost there!

Oh good lord, I would have never been able to do 4am shifts consistently. And I absolutely HATED worked Black Friday. Even at my little store, it was way too crazy. I can't even imagine in bigger cities.

I am definitely going to relish sleeping in till ~6:45am this year and going to work at 8am. Heck, maybe I'll even get to do some Black Friday shopping the night before!! I've never done Black Friday shopping before!!

Bonus, she has a frequently sick two year old, so she pretty much doesn't get to sleep anymore. Black Friday shopping is a good thing to avoid IMO, but that might be my fear of Boston crowds talking, haha. Online deals are where it's at! I get the day off but my big plans involve leftover pie for breakfast

Not all of us have that luxury Since I moved here in 2011, I've always worked Black Friday, this year included. At least it won't be at 4 in the morning though with this new job I got earlier this year, phew! (My last job was at Target. SCARY place on Black Friday!!)

One of my best friends works 4am shifts at Target every week. She claims to thrive off the Black Friday stress, but... yeesh. It's probably just the fight or flight survival instinct kicking in