pushbrk

Most likely, yes.  This a manual intake process, and there would have been a rush.  Other possibility is it arrived to late for the old fee, or there is another reason for rejecting and returning your package and payment.  At this point, just wait and see.  Are you sure the package was delivered in time.  March 30 was a Saturday.  The intake facility doesn't work on Saturday.  Were the increased fees based on receipt date or mailing date?

We are going based on language here:
https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/Supplements/Supplements_by_Post/BNK-Bangkok.html

that says:
”If your medical examination report will not be completed by the time of your interview (due to ongoing testing, treatment, or other reason), it must be rescheduled until you receive your completed medical examination report.  You can contact visasbkk@state.gov to reschedule your visa interview. 

Correct, but it is still important to use a computer and Adobe products.  Also important to input in order, so that following fields are activated or deactivated.
 

If he's self employed, he checks the self employed box.  NVC knows self employed don't have W2 forms.  Sometimes they have 1099s.  Pretty clear by the occupation entered whether they would have 1099s for their primary income.  A short sentence signed by the joint sponsor indicating they have no W2 or 1099 forms would be all then extra needed to point this out.  Shouldn't be necessary but it might help.

Those I-864 instructions are critical.  Your household will include all unmarried children under 21 no matter where they live.  Combining income with your mother will add one person (your mother) to the total household, but using her as a household member and combining income will most likely be better, in this case than having her be a joint sponsor.  As a joint sponsor, she would need to qualify for a household including all immigrants, plus herself, but not you.

USCIS forms are not Apple or "device" friendly.

I think you’re misunderstanding the requirements.   Individual consulates do not set their own medical requirements.

Yes, that's fine if your income is clearly sufficient.

The life insurance policy is a total non-issue.  Nobody is going to ask about it.  It's just not the kind of thing that would make a difference in a visa case.

First, get your legal relationship to the child correct in your mind. For immigration purposes, he is simply your stepson.
 
Even without the guide, the I-130 instructions spell out clearly what is required for spouse and what is required for a stepchild.  You will be submitting evidence of your bona fide relationship to your wife, but nothing like that for the stepson.  For him, you are simply providing evidence you are married to his mother and that he is his mother's child.  Presumably, he will travel with his mother. Whether you are traveling with them or not, is irrelevant.  

The life insurance policy is a total non-issue.  Nobody is going to ask about it.  It's just not the kind of thing that would make a difference in a visa case.

You complete I130 and I130a for your wife
and I130 for your stepson. 
 

I would not worry about canceling it. It's not a make or break piece of evidence. Go ahead and cancel it. 

Yes, completely normal.  Note that being actively reviewed doesn't mean anything at all is happening, in this context.  It's just a misleading label.  Your case is in a queue waiting to be actively reviewed.  That active review is usually about 20 minutes of human activity.

Just expect a year.  It might take more or less but there is no accurate way to predict.

Yes, completely normal.  Note that being actively reviewed doesn't mean anything at all is happening, in this context.  It's just a misleading label.  Your case is in a queue waiting to be actively reviewed.  That active review is usually about 20 minutes of human activity.

You've made two contradictory statements above.  Never heard of NVC accepting anything but direct from a US checking account.

You already have your answer.  That's why others aren't answering.  If you study the I-864 instructions, you'll see that my answer is consistent with those instructions.

Of course he did.  He had to.  Whether she kept a copy, we don't know.  Assertion quoted refers vaguely to it, but does not actually mention it by name.  That's why I think the court does NOT have a copy.
 
I say often "Words mean things."  It's also true that words not used, mean things too.
 
 

Referring to the I-134, the wording of the earlier statement from the court refers to papers filed to get her here.  THAT would be the I-134.  The I-864 was filed to keep her here.  She may not even know about that one.  Any good immigration attorney would pick up an that verbiage, and any good divorce attorney would advise against volunteering information.  Like many decisions by judges, it could come down to which lawyer has (really "presents") the most persuasive argument.

Yes.  Both the divorce and Immigration Lawyers can collaborate to fight this but it's still the judge's decision.
 
I'm not either of those things but my first question would be to see her copy of the I-864.  I doubt she has it, but it could be demanded in discovery motions.

You say the I-485 was denied.  A properly filed adjustment package would have included the I-864, but it would not be enforceable by immigration related means, if the I-485 was denied.  Why was it denied?
 
There ARE cases where the I-864 was used as grounds for spousal support in divorce cases though.  You signed a contract I-864 with the government though, not with your wife.

None of the above matters in the context of the affidavit of support.  This sponsor is a self employed investor.  His current income will be the "Total Income" figure from his latest (should be 2023) US Federal tax return.  AGI (might be the same number) is irrelevant to a self employed person.  Self employed never file a 1040 EZ.
 
Two sections of the affidavit to enter income.  The past tax returns section, and the current income section.  Unique to the self employed is that the most recent income reported in the tax section is the same as the "current income" as it is not "income" (again, in this context) until it appears on the tax return.  In this situation the total income will be the capital gains minus applicable losses.  It doesn't matter whether the gains were long term or short term.  If they are included in the plus side, then the plus minus the minus, is the "total income".

A "Self Employed Investor" with ample capital gains income, would also declare and document the underlying investment capital in the asset section of the affidavit, further supporting their qualification to sponsor the immigrant.

Critical question as from many Asian countries she may not be able to GET a tourist visa.  Does she have the visa already, and if not, what country is it?

This time, "I was told", a notoriously unreliable source, was correct.