cococacao

Read through this thread, especially post #20.

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/437334-still-no-gc-or-welcome-letter-2-months-after-interview/page-2

WOW omg. That's probably what happened to us! Thank you so much for finding that post -- I didn't see anything relevant when I searched the forum. Definitely gonna make an infopass appointment!!

In regards to your AP, it would take 60-90 days or so and by then you hopefully have your GC.

Perhaps you can make an infopass and inquire about a travel stamp, sorry I can't be of more help but I would keep on top of the

congressman's inquiry.

Thank you very much for that idea -- I had no idea about Infopass. I'm checking it out now and I think it might be of help to us.

It's been 10 days since I last heard from congressperson's staffer so I sent a check-up email. Gonna have to keep being a squeaky wheel I guess.

what visa did your husband hold when he entered the USA ?

K1, as Ebunoluwa said. Entered US August 14 2014, married Sept 1, NOA1 Sept 11.

Still hope someone can shed some light on this issue. In case this post was TLDR, here's the short version:

We're still waiting for a status change on my husband's GC after he interviewed 2.5 mo ago. Portland field office says they'll adjudicate once his "temporary file" arrives. Has anyone had this experience? How can I press further with my congressperson?

Also, should this have been posted in the progress reports subforum?

Hi guys, looking for some advice about my husband's green card taking so long at the last stage in the process.

He filed for AOS through marriage on Sept 1. (He did biometrics for EAD in Oct and received that card in Nov.)

In March we received the AOS interview notice, and on April 22 we attended the interview. It went very well and was quick. The interviewer said that she was just waiting for his file to arrive in the mail, and that as long as everything was in order, she would approve him once it arrived. She estimated 2 weeks for that, plus 10 days for the green card to be produced.

Over a month later, still no green card. The online status still read as "interview has been scheduled." I called USCIS to inquire, and the guy on the phone said that it still was within normal processing time for the field office (Portland OR is very backlogged). This confused me a bit since I thought there was no more "processing" left after the interview.

In June I contacted my congressperson, and a staff member inquired with the field office about my case. They said: "During the adjustment interview, systems checks revealed [husband] had a prior temporary file that had not been consolidated into his permanent file. The Portland Field Office ordered the temporary file for review and consolidation. Pending any unforeseen issues, the application will be adjudicated as soon as we receive and review the complete file." This is pretty much exactly what the interviewer told us.

I contacted the staff member again on July 1, but she hasn't gotten back to me yet. I also submitted a case inquiry on the USCIS website 2 weeks ago, and I still haven't heard anything back from them. Portland processing times shows that they were working on cases from August 24 2015 on April 30 2015, so by now they must have gotten to our Sept 11 2014 case, right?

Really confused about why we are waiting so long. All they have to do is send the file through the mail, stamp it approved, and be done with it right?

So my questions are:

1) Is there any way to escalate the inquiry if they give the congressperson staff the same response again?

2) Is it too late to apply for an advance parole document? My husband didn't apply for one before because he didn't have an "emergency" reason -- he just wants to see his family again soon. Should we? Won't that take 2 mo to process anyway? Might as well wait for the GC right?

3) Has anyone else had this experience? What did you do, and what should I do? Just keep waiting?

Thank you so much for any help.

A good way to figure out what questions you'll be asked is to check out reviews of the embassy you have to go to. Select the country next to "Consulate:" and then select the Topic, "IR1/CR1 Visa."

thank you for your advice! yes, a tax return though it's MFS.. We don't have joint accounts yet as we only got married October last year 2014 then I went home after two weeks.. He doesn't send me money or anything yet as I never had the need to ask for money from him since I work and have savings of my own.

I really hope what I have is enough. I thought I can handle the pressure but as the date gets closer, I feel like I'm a child who just ate a ton of chocolates. My brain is currently on hyper mode.

Yeah, it's understandable that you wouldn't have much since you don't live in the same country and don't have children or joint property. BTW, don't worry about not having a big wedding. My husband and I got married at a courthouse in plainclothes and had our "reception" at Jack in the Box. We don't even have rings. We just had 2 crappy cellphone photos of the ceremony and that was good enough for our GC interviewer.

I think you'll be okay as long as you've got all the evidence you can think of. I know how it feels to be paranoid and stressed all the time about it... and I came out the other side wishing I hadn't worried so much. Try to let yourself relax!

His visa was approved!!

However, they fingerprinted him again and asked him if immigration ever stopped him, because it showed that he was caught 3 times at the border. My husband said the truth and he then replied... "congratulations your visa is approved"

Wow, congratulations!!! It's great how much stress is lifted

So you have tax returns, 10+ photos, and lots of IM logs? Sounds good to me, although I'm not an expert and haven't done the CR1 process (we did K1 fiance visa). For my husband's K1 interview all we had was my travel itinerary emails from visits, chat logs, and 4 photos. For the green card interview we had joint tax returns, 6 photos, a joint bank account, and joint insurance (the last 2 you wouldn't have anyway since you don't live in the same country). Got easily approved for both. Hope that helps!

Definitely do not pay $100 for a translation! If you're bilingual, do it yourself. That's what my husband and I did.

We did not use a template like Aimara suggests. We just wrote out all of the text of his Spanish BC in English in a new Word document. Then we attached a separate sheet that said: "I, [name], certify that I am fluent (conversant) in the English and Spanish languages, and that the above document is an accurate translation of the document attached entitled 'Extracto de Nacimiento.' [signature & date]" I believe I got this wording from somewhere on Visa Journey. My husband just got his green card today, so it must have been acceptable

FINALLY! On March 18 we were sent our interview notice and it arrived in the mail yesterday!!! We're scheduled for April 22. Can't wait!

My husband applied for his AOS on Sept 11 and on Nov 6 the online status changed to "ready to be scheduled for an interview" and it says we should receive the interview notice in the mail by Dec 6. Wow!!! Isn't that moving kind of fast? I guess it shouldn't be long now, right?

(fyi our local office is Portland, OR)

Fiance just had his appointment today and he was APPROVED!! Good luck to everyone who's still on their way

Yes get two lawyers.

You risk the prenup being nullified (and perhaps later challenged) if one party did not use one. Think about it: if, heaven forbid, you later get divorced, the party that did not have the benefit of an attorney can claim that they were railroaded, not adequately represented, misinformed, etc. when they signed it.

So both of you must be represented, by different people. And the one with the assets can pay for both lawyers if the other party cannot afford one.

That makes sense, thank you.

Is it necessary to have two lawyers if only one party has assets? I'm in a similar situation as the OP. I'm a USC with lots of assets and my fiance will arrive here essentially penniless.

lol, too hot for pants. That's hilarious.

Dude, my fiance and I have had so many experiences like this, especially since when we have a conversation, my fiance speaks Spanish and I speak English.

One time we were talking to some Spanish-speaking friends, one friend said (in Spanish), "Don't say big words around her [referring to me]!" which I was pretty offended by because I thought he was insinuating I was too dumb for advanced vocabulary. Later I told my fiance I thought that was mean of him to say, but my fiance didn't quite understand what was so offensive about it! Turns out, in Spanish a "big word" is a BAD word, like profanity, not a long word or an intellectual word. Whoops! Looks like the friend was just trying to be polite

Hey there, and good luck! As a fellow west coaster with a Mexican fiancee, I can tell you the process is not as bad as I expected

Thank you so much, that is extremely helpful!! I'll send in a couple years of 1030s then and try to get a cosponsor just in case.

So your steady, ongoing income is $16k a year? Is your household size only 2? If so, you are about $4k short in income. Are your assets in the amount of at least $12k(amount of income you are short times 3) to make up for the shortfall in income?

I do not think the explanation is weird. Not entirely sure it is needed or will be read, but letting them know you will graduate soon and employable could be helpful.

My income changes every year but I expect it to be at least 16k or more next year and the years to follow. Yes, household will only be 2 (household is only me + dependents right? that's what other people on these forums said). I thought the assets had to be income shortfall x 5, not x 3? In any case, yes, my assets are much more than that.

Current income is key. Get a cosponsor

From the information I've gotten from this site, not having enough income is fine if you have assets, no?

I posted this question in the embassy and consulate board, but didn't get much response, so reposting here.

I'm an unemployed student with low income from capital gains and a lot of savings (more than enough to compensate for low income), and my fiancé is a Mexican citizen. For the affidavit of support, I was thinking of attaching a letter explaining my financial situation. Something like the intent to marry letter, like this:

To Whom It May Concern:

I, NAME, am able and willing to financially support FIANCE upon his arrival into the US using the K-1 visa.

I derive an annual income of approximately $16,000 from capital gains.

I currently have $00,000 on deposit at my bank.

I am enrolled at UNIVERSITY working towards MASTER'S DEGREE. Upon completion of my degree (estimated 2015), I will be eligible for and seek employment as a JOB, a position that earns an annual income of approximately $00,000 in the state of Oregon.

Documentary evidence of the preceding is enclosed, including:

- Form 1030: Individual Income Tax Return for NAME for 2013

- Statement from a bank officer

- University transcript

Yours truly,

NAME

Since I'm in kind of an unusual case, I was thinking of attaching a letter explaining my financial situation. Something like the intent to marry letter, like this:

To Whom It May Concern:

I, NAME, do hereby state that I am able and willing to financially support FIANCE upon his arrival into the US using the K-1 visa.

I derive an annual income of approximately $16,000 from capital gains.

I currently have $00,000 on deposit at my bank.

I am enrolled at UNIVERSITY working towards MASTER'S DEGREE. Upon completion of my degree (estimated 2015), I will be eligible for and seek employment as a JOB, a position that earns an annual income of approximately $00,000 in the state of Oregon.

Documentary evidence of the preceding is enclosed, including:

- Form 1030: Individual Income Tax Return for NAME for 2013

- Statement from a bank officer

- University transcript

Yours truly,

NAME

Would that be weird? Unnecessary?

APPROVED Exactly 30 days after receipt. I AM SO EXCITED!

Congratulations to everyone else who got approved!!!

It actually doesn't establish anything as it can be easily faked.

Isn't that true of most evidence of an ongoing relationship? If you don't have physical snail mail letters or phone bills, it's very difficult to provide evidence that theoretically can't be faked.

I don't mean any disrespect, but the one thing, everyone has failed to point out - possibly intentionally, is the fact the you call your friend boyfriend. I've met my now wife online as well, but I don't see how anyone can label someone their bf or gf without meeting first. One should at least meet someone a few times before regarding one another as bf/gf. Come, meet the guy, spend some face-face time with him, then decide on putting that bf label Also, be really careful on deciding to become his fiance and going through this long immigration process. Just a friendly suggestion.

As far as your coming to visit him goes, just be honest about it and do just as Avery Kats suggested. Although, I would simply tell the CBP officer, than I came to see the country and meet with one of my good friends. Telling the officer you came to see your bf whom you've never met, may make him believe you might think of overstaying your allowed time (given by the CBP officer) and that you might go for the quick marriage and AOS. They don't like that.

No. It's perfectly normal to have a girlfriend/boyfriend relationship online, and there's nothing special about meeting face to face that would make it a prerequisite for adopting those titles. It's her relationship to judge, not yours.

Also, no, the officer won't be suspicious that they haven't met before. This concern is unfounded.

Hey everyone!

I'm new to this site but not new since I've been scrolling through the topics for months to read and gather information about the k1 visa and the whole immigration process through marriage itself.

My boyfriend is a US citizen, we are planning to file I-129F soon. We met online and haven't met in person before. I'll be in the US visiting him and staying at his place for 9 days, I'll go later on this week. I'm 23 year old and I'm still a student in Hungary. I'm coming with the Visa Waiver Program and I've never been to the US before.

I'm a little nervous about the POE (which will be in Detroit btw).

Is it a red flag that we never met in person before, yet I'm staying at his place?

What should I say if they ask me whether he is a "friend" or "boyfriend"?

Any advices are much appreciated

So this is the first time you'll meet, and then you'll file for the I-129F, correct?

Just be honest. He is your boyfriend, and you are staying with him at his residence. There's nothing suspicious about that.

We sent in the I-129F on 3/13, it was "received" on 3/17, and we got NOA1 via email and text on 3/19. En route to California Service Center.

Good luck everyone!!