saddlepatch

I'm not sure I fully understand what you're saying? Are you saying someone random at the UAE airport took the sealed envelope not a BCO?

If that's the case I'd call the UAE airport authority right now, report the documents stolen then speak with your consulate as soon as you can to get a replacement. I'm not sure if they will blame you entirely for the incident (meaning you may have to pay to get new documents, or re-do the process but don't quote me on that). If it was a airline ticket agent, they may put the blame on the airline and call it a case attempted fraud with you being the victim.

Sorry I'm really not sure what the situation is, I'm just assuming, so no one get mad at me for taking a stab at it.

Nevermind haha ignore me then.

I just sent in a photocopy from my printer of my marriage and birth certificate, no issues. Never saw anything about it having to be an official copy.

Do you mean like putting money in a bank account?

Kinda, assets would be like any investments you have, savings accounts etc however this can prove to me more of a hassle, so I would STRONGLY suggest doing a co-sponsor who makes 125% over the poverty line instead. Much easier

Hi there

What can be done when the US citizen is below the minimum poverty line?

He's from Brazil. She's from the US. We are preparing to apply for the K1 and found out that her income will be a problem.

We've heard it's possible to have a co-sponsor. Does it make things more difficult? How does the US consular service in Brazil see that? Also, do you think hiring an attorney would help at all in this case?

Thanks/obrigado!

A co-sponsor will not make your case any harder to approve they just want to make sure your spouse will not need to have the government support them (Simply another fancy way of saying, they don't want to lose money haha) so with a co-sponsor that will ensure the government has a second person to fall back on if the need ever arises.

I have a co-sponsor. It can be anyone too, preferably someone you know, but it can be a friend, a family member (In the US and much be a citizen) or a co-worker. Just make sure you find someone who understands the conditions. They're obligated to your spouse for 40 quarters (equals about 10 legal working years at 5 days a week, 40 hours a week, so it could be longer than 10 years) or until they become a US Citizen (they have to wait 5 years after their POE.)

No need for an attorney at all. You're just throwing away money at that point

Also you may also use your assets to try and over-come getting a co-sponsor, but it's much easier just to get one so that's what I'd recommend.

You will be fine! Best of luck!

Depending how you shipped it off, if you were like me and sent it priority air mail, then I got my NOA1 about a week or two after.

Your best bet is to look at similar timelines and compare, but nothing in written in stone. Every case is different. You can take a look at my timeline (located under this response) for a rough idea how long it took me. Keep in mind I sent mine in right after the government shutdown, so they were a little backed up and I got the Nebraska Service Center which is rumored to be the longest.

But welcome to the first steps of getting your spouse to the US! We're a great community if you need any help or advice. In the meantime, while you wait, I encourage you to read up on the Wiki about the process, the FAQS and avoid browsing too much of the forms so not to freak you out with things that are much later down the line in the process! You can ad me to your friends list if you want and I'll try to help you the best I can!

I personally wouldn't take what the embassy page says too seriously on this matter.

I think its a day by day basis based on who is working security at the time. My wife was refused to come in with me in Montreal when I've read many couples before me we're allowed to have the petitioner join them.

I think it's really a game of chance. I would assume "no" but attempt to have them join you but be prepared for them to wait outside otherwise. Account for weather, the amount of time it will take etc.

It depends on a lot of things. One would be how many people are going in at the time of your appointment, another is just who happens to be working that day.

My wife was NOT allowed to come into the consulate with me and they claimed it was due to "The number of applicants with interviews and that she would be taking up a seat for an applicant." but they allowed others in, some children, some parents and even friends....

I would assume it will be a no.

Besides it did make my interview take less time, as those who had spouses/family members with them seemed to take longer than those who went in alone.

But you never know, just go up with you spouse and see what happens, just be more so prepared for them to say no.

I'm so sorry you were denied and that they would ask such a personal question....

Everyone else has suggested some amazing advice. Do what you can to fight this! You have our support! Sounds like this IO was having a bad day and took it out on you for no reason....since it sounds like you had all the right evidence (the same stuff I had and i was JUST approved).

Keep us updated friend! You will get through this! <3

I was approved the same day, my CEAC status changed to "ISSUED" 4 days later (Interview was on the 26th, CEAC changed to ISSUED on the 28th). Still waiting to get my visa from LOOMIS.

A little paranoid, keep reading a lot of K-1 applicants are going to POE and being denied because their NOA2 expired? Does that apply for us CR/IR-1 applicants too and if it does where can I find the expire date on my NOA2? I wasn't aware of this so if it says mine is expired, do I have to let the consulate know so I have no issues at POE?

Thanks :3

It can be a few days, a few weeks or a few months. Took us about a month or two to get our interview date I'm told the NVC sets up the appointments once a month for all the consulates but there is no for sure time-frame from when your case is completed to when you get an interview date.

It will come soon enough, don't you worry, in the meantime, now is a great time to get some basic interview stuff prepared like buying a folder to organize your paperwork, gathering originals (Birth Cert, Wedding Cert, etc etc) and making copies of what you have as well as getting some photos printed off for evidence of relationship to help time go by. Also go over the interview questions with your spouse over Skype!

Best of Luck!

I've tried everything. I really want to change it.....and it won't change? Is there something wrong with the profile picture system right now or?

Then I know nothing about Naturalization XD I haven't bothered to look it up as I have no plans to become a citizen unless it becomes a issue to keep renewing my green card every 10 years.

I was so nervous for my interview on Friday that now I'm sick....haha and you know what? I had nothing to be nervous about.

I was even more scared when my wife couldn't come in with me for the interview.

I just kept telling myself that I have nothing to hide. I did everything I could do, I have all my paperwork, it's in this beautiful organized black folder and I have my backups. Everyone around me is going through the same thing, so I reached out and talked to them. I found that was super helpful and helped me keep my stress down.

My wife and I also went over the interview questions over and over just so we were used to answering them on the fly. Naturally we knew all the answers but of course telling someone who is deciding your future in your spouses country is a little more difficult and can result in a lot of blank moments haha.

In the end, my interview went smoothly, the IO was super nice and friendly. Trust me, they don't want to deny visas and denial is so far and few between.

What will be will be is what I always say. As long as you two have everything prepared and organized, you shouldn't have any issues. Go in with confidence and remember what drove you to do this in the first place You will do fine!

There should be an option to have them mailed, check the site again for that option That's what we had to do because the online service kept shutting down on us. This is normal and it should be back up in a few days. But yeah, you SHOULD be able to have them mailed to you. Takes about 10 business days.

I have no clue why this is, considering it took me almost 2 years from start to Interview. I also submitted my petition right after the government shutdown, so that might have been partly to blame.

I think it's just a matter of how far behind each place is....

I was stuck with Nebraska, which I hear is the slowest of them all.

But it's a ticker when you see someone who applied the same time you did for the same VISA get approved and have their interview MONTHS in advance before you.

If the government shuts down, will it effect those who have been approved getting their Visas back to them through LOOMIS? I just was approved on Friday and waiting for my VISA to come in the courier in London, ON.

Where do our passports even go? Is the VISA put in at the Consulate or are they sent off somewhere else? (Like I know here in Ontario, most of our passport stuff goes to Thunder Bay)

Sounds like you're also looking at a bad time for New York. Season has ended, as winter is coming. Most places have hired until Christmas. Keep trying though, might want to lower your standards to to something more like retail, call center or along those lines, gain some work experience in the US to make bigger companies looking up references easier for you. Might try looking outside the state too. Talk to your spouse and see if moving is an option if your search drags out any longer.

The economy is tight, but there are many other factors too, like I said, Season is always a big one. Has nothing to do with you being an immigrant Don't give up!

Probably because you had to submit a document after the fact, your application is just going through the final stages of AP before they can mail out the VISA. As long as it says on the CEAC website that it's been "ISSUED" then I wouldn't fret. I just asked a simular question wondering about the generic message on the CEAC and learned that sometimes these things take awhile longer. I would wait another week and try contacting them again for an update.

I'm not sure how long the Embassy in the Dom Republic takes for VISA's.

Oh okay, thanks everyone, I got nervous there for a second! That makes sense that it's just generic.

Just curious, I checked the CEAC and it says "ISSUED" and this under it:

"Your visa case is currently undergoing necessary administrative processing. This processing can take several weeks. As the officer told you in the interview, if further information is needed, you will be contacted. If your visa application is approved when administrative processing is finished, you will receive notification to collect the passport with the visa from the Loomis branch you selected when you booked your appointment."

I guess I'm curious why it says "If your visa application is approved..."

Isn't it already approved? I was told at the interview it was and I never got my passport back. So I'm confused.

Any insight would be great!

If you don't have any joint accounts or assets, try sending in Skype Logs, FB chat logs, any cards from birthdays you've sent, flight confirmations, hotel confirmations, ticket stubs, even little cute notes back and forth work. For a lot of reasons its hard to get joint accounts, I know for us it was hard due to not having a green card already to get a bank account together, so it's not uncommon. If you work, try to see if you can get him on your benefits or get on his under life insurance. Most well known companies will put a foreign spouse on a life insurance policy

Make sure photos show not just selfies, but anything with family members. If you don't have wedding photos (we didn't) use honeymoon photos.

Even though it's true letters from Family friends aren't very helpful, if you have less evidence than normal, it might help. Just make sure to have them notarized and signed. I'd send in 3 or 4 from both sides (So your friends and his friends). Like I said, it might not mean much, but in your case, the more you can prove the better.

Best of luck! Keep us posted. You will get there!

Yes, immigrant visa application is the DS-260. I think I read somewhere that you just need to bring the confirmation page to the interview.

Awesome, blossom!

We have the whole DS-260 printed and confirmation page just in case Thanks!

I just want to double check what the Immigrant Visa Application Part 1 and 2 is? It says on our interview letter that these were R- submitted online. The only thing I remember submitting is the DS260...is that what they mean? And if not, how do I get a copy of those or is it not required?

You don't need Facebook We hardly used facebook to communicate, always skype. Also someone said something about talking to their friends and having chat logs from that. You don't need that either. Not everyone gets along with their fiance's or spouses friends. I'm not particularly close with any of my spouses friends, tbh (we get along but I haven't had time to really make a good connection. I'm naturally a loner and prefer one on one interaction also that and my wife and I's schedule doesn't meet up with most of her friends, and the majority of her friends are out of state so ), I'm not presenting any chat logs with them as I don't have any? All my interaction has been in person or it's been like mic conversations on Skype or just messaging to see if they know where Laura is or if they're still at their place or to get in contact with her. Most of my conversations with her family have also been in person (you can't document that, just state it instead) with again chat logs if any consisting of "Hey do you know how long Laura is going to be a X and Ys?" Nothing that would be useful to an IO. Also I'm in a same sex marriage so there is a lot of negative association with me for her parents, so we don't have a relationship, I'm just tolerated.

As long as you have evidence of YOUR relationship (You didn't marry/get engaged to their friends or family, you got engaged/married to THEM. In a perfect world, we would all get along with our in-laws and spouses friends but that's human nature, it doesn't happen for everyone) and you can prove the relationship isn't for immigration purposes you will be fine. We have evidence from dating back from when we started out as friends, to home made cards, to various photos, to plane confirmations, ticket stubs, hotel confirmations, a few skype logs if needed and then the basic stuff such as our marriage certificate etc. None of our evidence includes Facebook anything.

My interview is on Friday. I'll let you know how it goes after