ameribrazil

After 630+ days, the agony of waiting for my M-I-L is over. Her I-130 & I-485 was officially approved. We've downloaded the Approval letter from the USCIS website. No interview was scheduled. Just waiting for the official letter and GC itself to arrive in the mail. Man that was quite long wait.

The specific process and requirements can vary depending on the country and the type of visa you are applying for. However, in general, after NVC approves all the documentation you have uploaded, the next steps typically involve the following:
NVC Case Complete: Once the NVC has reviewed and approved all your documents, they will deem your case as "NVC Case Complete." This means that they have verified that you have submitted all the necessary forms and supporting documents. Interview Scheduling: After your case is complete, the NVC will transfer your case to the U.S. embassy or consulate in your country. The embassy will then schedule an interview for you based on the availability of visa interview slots. The timing of the interview can vary, and it largely depends on the workload of the specific embassy or consulate. Interview Letter: Once the embassy or consulate has scheduled your interview, they will typically send you an interview letter or notification. This letter will provide you with the date, time, and location of your interview. It may also include any additional instructions or documents you need to bring for the interview. In most cases, you should not need to contact the embassy or consulate directly to request an interview date. Instead, you will typically receive communication from the embassy or consulate once they have scheduled your interview. However, if you have any specific concerns or questions about the process, it's best to consult the official website of the U.S. embassy or consulate in your country or reach out to their consular section for guidance.
 
Remember, this information is a general guideline as I am not an attorney or practice any law. This is just based on my experience.

I filled I-130 & I-485 on July 2021 for my mother and father who overstayed their tourist visa. My mother received a notification that a notice is sent out for the schedule of the date of interview. What are the documents that we need to bring during the interview? What are the questions commonly asked? Thank you.

Thank you! Yes, I will definitely agree that it is so illogical to split them. I don't understand how they handle their case work and I will never find out smh

Thank You Lord hallelujah! God is Good! All the time.
 
We received a text today that brought a sigh of relief to this endless waiting game. Wife's Green Card is now being produced. I am definitely happy that we waited to file for her citizenship as I didn't want the waiting time to be extended as our local office processing for N-400 is 9 - 16 months.Thanks to everyone's support on this. Good luck to the rest of you still waiting. Now on to N-400.. 
 

Congrats to all Approved cases. Wish VSC would start pushing some of our cases along.

https://www.uscis.gov/save
"...The SAVE Program provides a fast, secure and efficient verification service for federal, state and local benefit-granting agencies to verify a benefit applicant’s immigration status or naturalized/derived citizenship..."
 
For more info: https://www.uscis.gov/save/about-save
 
No you won't see anything on the SAVE system until the applicant actually goes to the SSA and file the paperwork. I would recommend doing this at the earliest because if you do this closer to his I-94 expiring, they will deny him and will have to wait until he gets his EAD card. Here's a thread that you can read that had this similar situation that I'm referring to. 
 

In our experience, the SSA office has to submit a case into the SAVE system to verify your fiance's immigration status. This verification can take up to 2 weeks as in the case for my wife when she applied for her SSN and when she took her driver license. Once the SSA or any other agency checking the immigration status, you will see that appear on the SAVE system. In fact, SSA will issue you the case number from SAVE system so you can also see and track the progress. Good Luck
 
 

Without getting overly hyped or excited, there seems to be more and more movements with the I-751s. There appears to have been 3 approval so far for the January 2018 filers. I am hoping sometime in April/May we would see some approvals for our us all or sooner!  
 
 

Without getting overly hyped or excited, there seems to be more and more movements with the I-751s. There appears to have been 3 approval so far for the January 2018 filers. I am hoping sometime in April/May we would see some approvals for our us all or sooner!  
 
 

My wife's window is on Feb 23rd. After much deliberation of the pros and cons, we both feel that its best to wait it out and allow ROC to be completed because coupling the N-400 and I-751 will further delay the process. This impacts her driver license because NJ MV would only allow her DL to expire based on the extension letter. We would have to constantly go to MV to extend her DL whenever we get a stamp from Info Pass. NJ N-400 processing time is 12 - 16 which means potentially her I-751 would be extended for another 12 months. 

My wife and I actually discussed this last week. Her window opens in Feb 2019 to apply for her N400. Ideally it would make sense to go ahead and file at the first available window. However, I looked at our local servicing center and N400 has a wait of 12 - 16 months as of today. Our concern is that it will extend her ROC wait time if it gets transferred to our local office. She prefers to have her 10 yr GC to give her piece of mind. So we will most likely wait until June or July. I hope by then, her ROC will be completed. Good Luck on your decision.

I agree with @aaron2020 
 
Green Card holders (Permanent Resident) are eligible to receive Financial Aid.
 
Financial Aid is any grant or scholarship, loan, or paid employment offered to help a student meet his/her college expenses. Such aid is usually provided by various sources such as federal and state agencies, colleges, high schools, foundations, and corporations. The amount of financial aid that a student receives is determined through federal, state and institutional guidelines. Grants include aid the student receives that need not be repaid; loans must be repaid. Interest rates and repayment terms vary by program. Employment is aid based on an hourly rate for work performed.
 
If the type of financial aid you receive is a loan, you have to repay it back. If the type of financial aid you receive is a grant and/or scholarship, you don't have to repay if back.

I agree with @aaron2020 
 
Green Card holders (Permanent Resident) are eligible to receive Financial Aid.
 
Financial Aid is any grant or scholarship, loan, or paid employment offered to help a student meet his/her college expenses. Such aid is usually provided by various sources such as federal and state agencies, colleges, high schools, foundations, and corporations. The amount of financial aid that a student receives is determined through federal, state and institutional guidelines. Grants include aid the student receives that need not be repaid; loans must be repaid. Interest rates and repayment terms vary by program. Employment is aid based on an hourly rate for work performed.
 
If the type of financial aid you receive is a loan, you have to repay it back. If the type of financial aid you receive is a grant and/or scholarship, you don't have to repay if back.

https://www.uscis.gov/save
"...The SAVE Program provides a fast, secure and efficient verification service for federal, state and local benefit-granting agencies to verify a benefit applicant’s immigration status or naturalized/derived citizenship..."
 
For more info: https://www.uscis.gov/save/about-save
 
No you won't see anything on the SAVE system until the applicant actually goes to the SSA and file the paperwork. I would recommend doing this at the earliest because if you do this closer to his I-94 expiring, they will deny him and will have to wait until he gets his EAD card. Here's a thread that you can read that had this similar situation that I'm referring to. 
 

I would then send what you have along with the W-2. Just make sure the 1040 is signed by both of you. 

Tax Year 2015 - If you have an account transcript that shows no income, this would be a good evidence to show no filing requirement. But I would recommend writing a letter stating that you did not have filing requirement because you had no income to report. On your letter I would refer to the transcript as evidence of no filing requirement.
 
Tax Year 2016 - What do you mean by "...In 2016, I graduated college in June and began working (only 6 months of the year), therefore, my income was below the 125%..." 
 
If you were single in 2016 and your Gross Income was less than $10,350 on a W-2 than you're correct, you did not have to file a tax return. See 2016 Pub 17 Page 3 & 4 "Do I Have To File a Return?" https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-prior/p17--2016.pdf
 
However, if you were single in 2016 and your Gross Income was at least $10,350 or more on a W-2, then you have a filing requirement. Additionally, if you were self-employed and received a Form 1099-MISC in amount of $600 or more, you are required to file because you must pay for SE Tax. See 2016 Pub 17 Page 6 "Self­Employed Persons" https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-prior/p17--2016.pdf
 
In summation, if you believe that for both years you had no filing requirements based on the filing requirements, I would write a letter explaining your position and citing the IRS Publication 17. You could always ask your accountant to write this letter on their letter attesting that you had no filing requirement. 
 

I respectfully disagree with this statement unless the OP has specifically stated that he's adopting his fiancee's daughter, then yes you're correct in suggesting in applying for an ATIN if he's legally going to adopt the child.
 
The course of action would be applying for an ITIN and selecting Exception D and entering the OP's SSN.
  
 
@khmer@nikeI would suggest reaching to your local CAA (IRS Certified Acceptance Agent) to assist you with filing an ITIN. You can search them by going to this site https://www.irs.gov/individuals/international-taxpayers/acceptance-agent-program I'm a CAA but I live in NJ but you can PM if you have any specific questions. Just be aware that it takes approximately 6+ weeks to get the ITIN application processed. Also, as someone mentioned by @TM92 you don't need a SSN to add them to your health insurance. I added my stepchildren to my health insurance mid year w/o SSN and I had no issue. Good Luck..
 

@Nin&WayWe went through this about 2 years ago. We did bring almost the same stuff as @JasonGG mentioned above. The interview went well for us. The IO did say out right that the kids were being interviewed to understand why we didn't file them together with my wife's initial filing. We told them that it had to do with $$$.  The only documents they asked to see was their Passport,AP/EAD Combo card, Birth Certificate and wife's passport and Birth Certificate to establish relationship. They did ask the kids who their parents were, and how everyone was related. After that, it was a basic question out of the I-485 form. Kids were approved on the spot. What was even great was that, they were suppose to only get approved for the 2 year conditional GC. On my way home, I received a private number call which I didn't pick up. The IO left us a vm letting us know that she approved the kids a 10 year GC vs the 2 year GC. We were of course static about it as its one less filing we have to do. 
 
I wish you good luck on the interview. 

Today was the day!
Wanted to update everyone on our kids K2 AOS visa since there isn't much discussion on K2 AOS interview here on VJ.
Wife, myself, and kids went to the interview for the kids' K2 AOS interview. They were nice enough to group them all as opposed to taking them one by one. We were also allowed to sit in the interview. The interview was very straight forward and pretty quick - roughly 25 mins. The reason the kids were scheduled an interview was to find out why we didn't process the kids AOS along with my wife all at once last year. This was obviously a simple question and it came down to $$$$ and I had to wait to get more money to file for their AOS. The rest of the questions was directed to the kids asking for their, name, DOB, address and the questionnaire from the I-485. After that, the officer said they were approved and interview ended and went home

You must visit your local SSA office and apply for SSN. https://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/USCIS/Working in the US/EBE_Flyer_Apply_for_your_Social_Security_Number_While_Applying_for_Your.pdf
 
For more information on applying for a Social Security card, see this fact sheet (PDF).
 https://www.ssa.gov/pubs/EN-05-10096.pdf

This happened to my wife. Potentially the hold up is a response from USCIS to verify your husband's immigration status. You can check to see if SSA submitted a request for your husband. https://www.uscis.gov/save/casecheck 

There seems to be several factors that is potentially negatively impacting your MIL and SIL in obtaining a tourist visa. One thing is certain is don't lie on the application as it can render an automatic denial.
 
Having said that, my wife's mother and sister applied for a tourist visa 3 years ago and they were both denied. I believe the reason was that the CO wasn't convinced their intent to return back home. It was very disappointing to hear the news as they had full documentation of their ties in Brazil. 
 
About a year later, my wife was told by someone to send her mom an invitation letter and try again. I had told my wife that this doesn't work based on the topics I've read on this forum.  We even had an argument about it because she taught that I didn't want her mom to come and visit us, which wasn't true. Then I decided to do some more research on this topic "Invitation Letter" on this forum. Yes, there's a lot of discussion regarding this topic and it appears majority of the people here have out right said not to bother as it doesn't work and that the CO don't even read them. There was one thread that I was reading where a VJ member mentioned that the invitation letter worked for them. I connected with them and corresponded back and fort and she provided me a copy of the letter she sent to their family member. I leveraged her letter and wrote an invitation letter that is more personal and relating to her mother. I did mention on the letter that we were paying for everything from visa cost, to transportation, lodging, etc. Along with this letter, I sent a copy of my banking statement and 2 years of tax return as supporting documents for financing the trip. We then proceeded to assist her in applying for the B2 visa ensuring she answered everything correctly and we paid her visa. Her status has not changed as she still had the same asset and the documentation to prove her ties to Brazil was the same. We weren't at the interview but MIL went with her grand daughter to accompany her at the interview. During the interview, the grand daughter told us that the MIL handed the interview letter and pictures of us and our kids to the CO. The CO did read the letter, looked at the pictures, reviewed MIL supporting documents to show ties to Brazil. The CO then asked several questions about our family and the status of my wife in the US. I believe after 20 mins of interview, MIL was approved for a tourist visa. MIL spent 40 days here last Thanksgiving/Christmas holiday and spent another 60 days during this summer. She will be returning again next next summer as she doesn't enjoy the winter here. 
 
In summation, while others may be right that an invitation letter alone does not guarantee or assist in getting an approval for a tourist visa but in our experience it did help my MIL obtain a tourist visa. There are others on this forum that will share their same experience as well. I believe it's a case by case basis and a country by country basis. In a country where fraud is high an invitation letter may not likely work. I will give a credit to @GabiMatch as I was sure and certain that invitation letter would not work. But she proved me wrong and because of her, my wife is now happy. As they say, happy wife, happy life
 
DISCLAIMER: While others may have the same or different results. What I wrote here is based on our experience on the invitation letter.

There seems to be several factors that is potentially negatively impacting your MIL and SIL in obtaining a tourist visa. One thing is certain is don't lie on the application as it can render an automatic denial.
 
Having said that, my wife's mother and sister applied for a tourist visa 3 years ago and they were both denied. I believe the reason was that the CO wasn't convinced their intent to return back home. It was very disappointing to hear the news as they had full documentation of their ties in Brazil. 
 
About a year later, my wife was told by someone to send her mom an invitation letter and try again. I had told my wife that this doesn't work based on the topics I've read on this forum.  We even had an argument about it because she taught that I didn't want her mom to come and visit us, which wasn't true. Then I decided to do some more research on this topic "Invitation Letter" on this forum. Yes, there's a lot of discussion regarding this topic and it appears majority of the people here have out right said not to bother as it doesn't work and that the CO don't even read them. There was one thread that I was reading where a VJ member mentioned that the invitation letter worked for them. I connected with them and corresponded back and fort and she provided me a copy of the letter she sent to their family member. I leveraged her letter and wrote an invitation letter that is more personal and relating to her mother. I did mention on the letter that we were paying for everything from visa cost, to transportation, lodging, etc. Along with this letter, I sent a copy of my banking statement and 2 years of tax return as supporting documents for financing the trip. We then proceeded to assist her in applying for the B2 visa ensuring she answered everything correctly and we paid her visa. Her status has not changed as she still had the same asset and the documentation to prove her ties to Brazil was the same. We weren't at the interview but MIL went with her grand daughter to accompany her at the interview. During the interview, the grand daughter told us that the MIL handed the interview letter and pictures of us and our kids to the CO. The CO did read the letter, looked at the pictures, reviewed MIL supporting documents to show ties to Brazil. The CO then asked several questions about our family and the status of my wife in the US. I believe after 20 mins of interview, MIL was approved for a tourist visa. MIL spent 40 days here last Thanksgiving/Christmas holiday and spent another 60 days during this summer. She will be returning again next next summer as she doesn't enjoy the winter here. 
 
In summation, while others may be right that an invitation letter alone does not guarantee or assist in getting an approval for a tourist visa but in our experience it did help my MIL obtain a tourist visa. There are others on this forum that will share their same experience as well. I believe it's a case by case basis and a country by country basis. In a country where fraud is high an invitation letter may not likely work. I will give a credit to @GabiMatch as I was sure and certain that invitation letter would not work. But she proved me wrong and because of her, my wife is now happy. As they say, happy wife, happy life
 
DISCLAIMER: While others may have the same or different results. What I wrote here is based on our experience on the invitation letter.

I have seen and read that and showed that to my wife. Hence why I was sure and certain an invitation letter will not work. But as mentioned on my post, that an invitation letter doesn't guarantee or assist in getting an approval. While it helped my MIL in her situation, other's might have a different experience. Essentially my message is, while its not a guarantee or "it is not one of the factors used in determining where to issue of deny the visa."  it doesn't hurt to have one nor do I want to discourage a person create one if they feel it might help their case. However, in the end its the applicant who has to establish credibility.