TomandCatie

Okay - so you can see our journey in the signature below - my husband immigrated to the US in 2013 and a lot has changed since. We adopted a baby girl last winter and it just finalized a few days ago (hooray!) 🥳

What's next for his visa journey and where do we start? Because of our time away and stress from the adoption process (that took two years), we've pretty much thrown any knowledge we gained in the trash relating to the visa stuff. 

His visa is good until 2025 (permanent residency), but we want to know options. I've written before that he's dyslexic and has short term memory issues - so whatever test they may need him to take for citizenship, he won't pass. Not unless it's 100% oral (he did that for his drivers license). So unless they have some sort of road to citizenship that allows that - do we just have to keep "renewing" every 10 years? And if so, how do we start either process?

*Side note* We are interested in becoming dual citizens (all of us, daughter included) - so if anyone has any knowledge on US/UK dual citizenship that would be helpful. We've read that even if adopted, if one parent is a citizen of Britain/England, they can easily attain citizenship. Would I follow just as easily? If no one can answer this we understand! :) 

Does his becoming a citizen, invalidate his British Citizenship?

Also, if he wanted to simply just renew his 10 years, could he do that instead?

He is unable to read or write, due to short term memory loss and severe dyslexia so we're pretty sure no matter how hard he studies, he isn't going to pass the test. It took him 10 tries just to pass a driving oral exam. 

What happens if (God forbid) he fails the testing ? Does he get another shot, or even worse, deported? I’m clueless on all of this and even though we’ve successfully done so much - I’m still a bit nervous! 

Hello everyone!

This forum has gotten me through so much filing with my husband! It's the BEST <3

You can see our journey in my signature if you have any questions.

So he's coming up on 5 years total as a green card holder - and we're wondering when he can apply for citizenship? We've heard that once you reach 5 years, you can technically do so right away - but he's had a hard time finding a job and he's worried this will hinder his chances? He's British and we've been married for 7+ years now, each time we apply it seems to go very smoothly - so I'm not *TOO* concerned... but I still want to be sure we do everything correctly and file properly. What do we do first to apply?

He also is dyslexic so the test has him worried. The USCIS was aware of his inability to read, and said when the time came he could always take the test orally...

How hard is the test and what's the best way/place to study for it?

Thanks everyone!

Catie

We got married there on a marriage visa, but it wasn't a visit one, it was for living, because I initially thought I would be staying.... but I really wanted to come back to the states, so we decided to move. Thanks for your reply!  

Hi Everyone!

I don't even know if this can be answered here because it's a US immigration site, but hoping a fellow Brit can tell me...

Basically, when I met my husband and got engaged, I went to the UK on a marriage visa, obtained it, and we got married in 2012. Shortly after, we made the decision to immigrate here, and after talking it over with my immigration lawyer, there wasn't really a process I had to follow, so I just let it expire.

We have a vacation planned to go back in February and visit family, but my passport (still says maiden name, but I'm bringing marriage certificate) still has the expired visa in it. I contacted my immigration lawyer from when I first went, and she said since it was just a visit and ten day vacation, they should let me in. But the "should" had me a little worried. 

In my mind, it shouldn't be a big deal, as my husband has a current us permanent resident card, so that alone shows we have no intention of staying... along with our tickets that show a return flight the next week, and me assuring them I DO NOT want to move to England.... but since I've been held over at heathrow before, it scares me a bit as to if they are going to let me in?

Any advice or added evidence I should bring to ensure they don't give me too hard of a time??

Hi All!

Stupid question probably, but we booked a flight back to England for a holiday and to visit his family, but since it's been more than a few years, I forgot how things work.

He immigrated here on a green card, and is now a permanent resident of the US. Since we bought the tickets it reminded us to get an ESTA visa if we need one...

When I looked it up it said:

I am a Lawful Permanent Resident of the United States and a citizen of a VWP country?
No, you do not need an ESTA Visa.

IS England a VWP country? And does he as a permanent resident need to get one anyway?

What about me as a citizen? I can't seem to find the answers on their FAQ and their number isn't working for me

Yay! Approved on 3-30-2016

Looks like September filers are moving along nicely.

Again, it depends. Most of the people waiting really long lengths of time are doing ROC, but differently. It might be through the same service center, but the rough time is about a month to two months to get a response. Someone from August filers just got an approval one month and some odd days from their biometrics date. They were from Canada/France I think... can't remember.

It also has a lot to do with origin country, believe it or not. I see a lot of filers waiting extreme amounts of time if they are not from a major allied country. For example, Pakistan, Iran, etc... all have long wait lists. I was told this by multiple USCIS officers during the last process I went through.

Hey All,

As per the link below. California service center is reviewing cases that were received in Feb'15. Looks like we will have to wait for a long time. By the way the website was last updated on August 31st 2015.

https://egov.uscis.gov/cris/processingTimesDisplay.do;jsessionid=abccrQBYkRz8m9szHsVcv

Have a good day all!

That link is false It's taking about a month from the biometrics date. Give or take a week or two.

Another user on here that I know got hers within a month using the CA service center. It's all case by case, and whoever looks at your file.

My husband and a few others on our list should get something in the mail in the next week or two.

case status does not changed yet. even with early bio

any one getting other than this message when check case status?

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

On September 16, 2015, we received your Form CRI-89, Petition to Remove Conditions of Permanent Resident Status Received, Receipt Number *********, and sent you the receipt notice that describes how we will process your case. Please follow the instructions in the notice. If you do not receive your receipt notice by October 16, 2015, please call Customer Service at 1-800-375-5283. If you move, go to www.uscis.gov/addresschange to give us your new mailing address.

Ours says the same thing. From what I understand it's a touch and go kind of thing. Some people get updates throughout the whole process, and others don't. My husband's hasn't been updated either, and he went for biometrics 2 weeks ago.

I would imagine it would be okay to include them, as long as you put in real photographs with it. Get a USB drive stick, and load it up with photos of the both of you, then take it to a CVS/drugstore/photo place. That's what I did. It cost me all of $5-10 to get about 50 printed into 5x7's

Had biometrics for the husband today They let me in with him, and we were in and out within 5 minutes. Really fast

Now for the waiting game

You can do a walk in? I thought it was appointment only? Everywhere I look says that shows a sign of desperateness and to keep your date unless its an emergency? Is that true?

Ahh! SO excited! Already got our biometrics letter today. Dated 09/12/2015 - appointment on 10/02/2015 !!!!! Please update it for me! Yay!

Yay! NOA1 was received today in the mail - dated 09/03/2015

On to the next step! Wish us luck!

I sent mine out on Sep 2nd If you could add me I'd appreciate it <3

So much stress, I really should NOT have sent it before Labor Day weekend LOL

Thank you!

So they can be copies? Or should they be original documentation? Obviously, some of them can't be (like health insurance/etc...)

Also - they don't care that it's in a giant package? I just send it all in? I didn't have to do this last time, I brought all our evidence to the interview.

I'm probably going to do a cover letter, and I won't attach my marriage certificate from the second one.

I like to do things that are unnecessary just in case I get a stickler, who wants a lot of evidence.

Nick - you've helped me so much in the past! Would it be pushy of me to ask if I can send the i-751 for your review? To make sure I did everything correctly?

Thank you guys!!!

Hi Everyone!

It's finally time for me, once again

I dread this with every fiber of my being.

Okay - so yesterday I got the dreaded ROC letter in the mail, telling us that it's time my husband files his I-751 notice. I've been stressing over this since he entered 2 years ago.

We have gathered up as much evidence as we can.

Here's a list of what we'll have by the end of next week:

*Joint Bank Account (statements over the past two years)

*Tax Returns (Married filing jointly)

*Health Insurance (joint)

*Car insurance (he's listed as a non-designated driver, since he can't drive- he's a severe dyslexic)

*Work proof (he has pay stubs from his job at Walmart that he's held for over a year)

*Cards and letters addressed to the both of us (including a few bills)

*Affidavits from family and friends

(1) my mother and father stating that we've been living with them for 2 years and paying rent, hence why we don't have any mortgage/rent/utility bills.

(2) an elderly couple we know, who helped teach my husband the faith he converted to. They know us VERY well as a couple, and attended our wedding (the second one, the blessing, not the civil obviously)

(3) a friend from his work who hangs out with the both of us on a regular basis, knows us as a couple.

*Marriage certificate (from our second wedding in Dec of 14, it was a blessing through our church)

*Dog adoption papers for our puppy (license and registration)

*Will for the both of us

*Life Insurance for the both of us, listed each other as beneficiaries.

*Pictures

*Vacation papers from a trip to Disneyland hotel, with hotel cards and travel papers with our names on them

I'm sure I'm forgetting a few other things I have tucked away, but that's the bulk of it.

The letter says to file the I-751 within 90 days prior to his entrance. It also states that if we send sufficient evidence, he might not even need the interview, and he will be immediately approved. I'm hoping this is the case, since I've been manic about collecting things.

I would really appreciate any advice, and possibly some help on how to properly fill out the form. I've heard some horror stories of people not filling them out properly and getting denied just based off that.

Also - is it different than what I had to do in England? Do I send in the evidence all together with the form? Should I categorize and make it really neat and labeled?

What's the process like?

I've read the "intructions" on the .gov site, but it's vague and never goes deep enough for me. I truly believe, that without this site, I wouldn't have made it this far with him. I tried doing it myself and ended up failing miserably. I didn't understand how much work and effort goes into it.

Thank you guys!

Catie and Tom

***Posts that were primarily about another member's case and drowning out the OP's queries have been split off to the thread linked below. When posting in this thread, please limit your replies to the OP's queries or do not post.***

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/535306-waiting-on-decision-split-topic/

**Moderator hat off**

No such explanation is needed.

Life insurance is good.

Just thought of something else too....

My husband and I are buying a dog from a breeder, he will be in both our names with his papers. Fluff piece, or good?

Frankly, OP, you're sweating this too much.

If you want to add something, skip the fluff. Instead, craft wills, medical powers of attorney, HIPAA releases, and associated documents. These make outstanding evidence and are even more valuable in "life" than as ROC evidence.

That's a great idea... I was thinking of signing up with Legal Shield and getting us wills to our names...

Also, I forgot to add in the original posting that we both have life insurance for ourselves, and named each other as beneficiary's should something happen to the other. In our names to this address, so that should help, yes?

It is not a denial yet....but I am waiting a denial because we have nothing else to send as a response to the RFE.

They did not specify what else they need for her application.

We made an appointment at USCIS and they could not recommend anything else to send.

We sent: Joint Tax returns, Driver's license with same address, House deed of joint tenancy, Joint property taxes, Utility bills in both names, Joint checking and savings, Credit cards in both names, Joint health insurance account, Car loan in both names, home owners insurance, Car insurance, etc......

But, that seems to be not enough.......

I really think you're overreacting....

My husband and I got an RFE when we first filed our I-130 as you can see in my signature... We sent TONS Of evidence for that and they still wanted to see more.

RFE doesn't mean they think you're fraudulent, so stop spreading that around. It's that they don't feel satisfied enough with what you sent. You may have sent all those things, but did you send ENOUGH of them?

RFE's come with a letter that states what else they want to see... take your notes from there. Don't go calling senators and stuff, that's not going to help. They deal with state matters, not federal.

Just gather up as much as you can and shove it in an envelope. When we got our RFE, I made a cover letter, saying how sorry I was that I didn't provide enough evidence to their liking, and I hoped that this time around it was sufficient enough, should they have any other questions or concerns, to please contact me (gave number) ect... and within a few days I was approved. Getting angry and calling people up and demanding to know what's going on is going to get you nowhere....

We had all the same documents that the 2 of you have, but USCIS says we don't have enough and they consider our marriage to be fradulent.

I'm sure you will be fine.......good luck to you.

I have seen applicants approved that had less documentation than we provided.

Sorry to hear that

Did they give a reason as to why they considered it fraudulent? It couldn't be just because you didn't provide enough. That doesn't mean you're fraudulent, just that you need to send more evidence.

Was there a red flag that went up for them? Something you included that seemed "off"?

Answers in bold and red:

Thank you for your help... Is it bad to add things in that aren't relevant? Even if they don't mean much... I still liked to add them (even in the last visa we did) cause I felt like it showed we cared enough to gather little things that might not even help?

Also, should we write a cover letter explaining why we might not have as much evidence as others? (Utility bills cause we live with my parents, phone bill, car in my name, ect...)