JeffreyO

Just a small update, yesterday morning my wife's "ready" status was changed to "Administrative Processing". This is in line with what I have heard from others. As of today it is now "issued". Happy days ahead. Thank you everyone.

https://ceac.state.gov/ceacstattracker/status.aspx

Please reference this site. You'll need your case number.

I got Ready once the embassy had reviewed our docs for the 221(g). The day after that it changed back to AP and then issued. Sounds like a visa is coming real soon for your wife.

Excellent! That's really what I'm hoping for. I, like probably countless other people, have been updating the CEAC page every hour in the hopes that I can witness changes. Fingers crossed.

PS - I apologize for not posting a timeline, I don't have exact dates for events, my wife has those and I didn't feel like waking her up to check .

It means they are working on your case. There is no concrete info on this because nothing in immigration is concrete. Everyone's case is different.

It sounds like they have received the needed documents and are processing it. Usually after interview status goes back and forth from ready to AP a couple times and then to issued. No one can tell you for sure. Just have to wait it out. At least you know they are working on it!

Gotcha', I appreciate the information. I did a forum search but as mentioned, since every case is different it is easy to get lost in what others are saying. With that in mind, I didn't find any forum threads regarding "Ready but they asked for more documents" so hopefully that's a good sign .

Hello!

I am excited to say that after needing to send additional documents for domicile, my wife's visa has been updated today from Administrative Processing to "Ready". I read through the forums and there are dozens of threads about this but often none have real concrete information. I just wanted to verify.

Does this essentially mean that they've approved my wife's visa and now it's just a waiting period? Or does ready sometimes go back to a status in which they require additional information? Thank you again.

Hello,

Recently my wife had her interview at the US Embassy in Bangkok, all was well except they wanted more proof of my domicile in the USA. We submitted the forms we thought were appropriate. As this was a DCF request, usual response times at the embassy in Bangkok are between 1-2 weeks. It has been roughly two weeks, we had not heard anything back. The "Status Updated Date" was the same as her interview date. This morning I sent a mail to the immigration department to confirm that they received our domicile documents, they stated that they did and that our case is "under consideration". Which I assume is their regular verbage for being reviewed. Here's the question I have...

After having received the e-mail I see that the status on the Visa Status page (ceac) has been updated with "Status Updated Date" of today however status remains "Administrative processing". My wife has not received a call or an e-mail requesting additional documents. Is the status updated date normally changed when an e-mail is sent asking if documents have been received? Does this mean they're working on it now? Or does this mean that we will likely need more documents and we are waiting for their response to tell us what we need?

I recall someone saying that even when a decision has been made it stays in "Administrative Processing" for a few days. Thank you very much in advance.

and I apologize to anyone I was snappy to. I'm in a bit of a foul mood due to this. I'll try to be a bit kinder .

Do you pay *anything* to your roommates? Like, a share of the bills and rent? Do you have any agreements with them to pay a share?

To be honest, the request seems totally logical to me. You're in Thailand with no fixed plans to return home (if you do, then perhaps include that information for them - return ticket, etc.) and you have provided them no evidence of actually living in the USA so far.

My W2's and tax returns show that I reside in the US so I have provided proof but they want more.

With that in mind, they explicitly say not to buy plane tickets until the passport has been returned with visa in hand. I did pay them but unfortunately there was no written agreement between us, only verbal .

It may be wiser to return home and sort out the problems.

You seem to think that this is a USCIS problem. That is mistaken. It is your problem to solve in order to obtain the visa.

It's not that they're the problem it's that the embassy's request is illogical. Also USCIS is done, USCIS only handles some of the tasks then hands it off to the embassy, USCIS was great, this is the staff at the embassy being illogical. Having a W2 with my address and my companies address both being listed as NYC should prove domicile but it's not that I have an option at this point. I'll have to bend the knee and figure out what they want, which would be nice if they provided a list.

I have found this list on the US Embassy in Bangkok's site.

A convincing combination of the following types of action might be considered as an indication of residence:

• Establishing an address in the United States
• Setting up and maintaining bank accounts in the United States
• Transferring funds to the United States
• Making and maintaining investments in the United States
• Seeking employment in the United States
• Applying for a social security number
• Voting in local, state, or federal elections
• Enrolling children in schools
• Paying U.S. income taxes
• Taking steps to relinquish residency in a foreign country

To retort to these - I already have an address in the US

I have bank accounts in the US

I don't transfer funds to the US since I already lived there

I have an investment account with shares in public US companies.

I don't seek employment because I am already employed in the US

I am a citizen and as such already have a social security card.

I don't vote

I don't have children.

I do pay income taxes and have proven that but I did not prove state taxes so i will provide those.

I don't need to take steps to relinquish residency in a foreign country as I have no residency in a foreign country.

I suppose at this point, bank statements, credit card statements, investment account statement, state tax return and a notarized letter explaining why the others are not available is the best I can do at this point.

I'm in Thailand visiting my wife at the moment and unfortunately I can't go to the DMV. The plan was to spend the rest of the time here until she receives her passport back and head back...

Lease, utility bills, perhaps bank verification statements.

Regardless whether you want to deal with the DMV or not, license/ID is very important.

As I mentioned I live with roommates who signed the lease and the utility bills are in their name so that's a no-go. I do have bank statements and ID is not a requirement in the US.

Some ideas - A state photo ID, bank statements showing your address, mail addressed to you, medical insurance statements, etc. A signed affidavit from the leaseholder stating that you live there and the length of time.

Living off the grid makes the immigration process more difficult. Remember that it is your responsibility to provide the needed information, not the USCIS to dig around.

I don't have a state ID, at least not one that's in date. I haven't needed it and have used my passport for things like employment. Honestly I don't need it in NYC and who wants to deal with the DMV?

I do, however, have bank statements with the address listed and credit card statements...

Hello,

My wife had her interview earlier today at the US Embassy in Bangkok and while she passed the interview questions they said that they wanted further proof of my residence in the states. Apparently my W2's and 1040's weren't enough, which is odd... my question is, what can I use at this point?

Would my state income tax return work? As you only pay state income tax if you live in a state. I live with roommates and am not on the lease nor do I have any bills in my name and I'm not registered to vote. My license (ID) is expired as I have used my passport and social security card for employment and live in New York City so I have no need to drive.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated, thanks!

Interesting, so I would mail the petition request to the proper address for my state of residence (New York). Can I stipulate a different response address as I'm not in New York to obtain mail sent there at the moment. For domicile purposes, I am still employed by my company in New York, receive paychecks twice a month and still pay federal and state taxes for the US/New York.

Hello,

I am in the process of getting married and i had a few questions about the K3 visa process.

First, I am the US Citizen and my soon-to-be wife is Thai. We will be marrying in Thailand. I am currently here on a tourist visa and will be traveling to other countries with my fiance once a month when this expires to both travel with her and renew a visa exempt status. My questions are as follows...

First: I'm a little confused by the application process. Sometimes I see notes that say I need to be in the US to process some of the paperwork. Is this true or can all of the paperwork be processed from Thailand? I heard DCF could work but only if I was staying here on a more permanent visa. Can we apply for her K3 visa and file all the paperwork from here in Bangkok even though I'm only on a tourist visa?

Second: Same question as above but this time for an IR1/CR1. This would be the end goal even if we got her to the US on a K3. Is this something I can apply for while in Thailand on a tourist visa/visa exempt status?

Third: Some of these say that I need proof of a US domicile. Staying in Thailand I currently have no lease but do maintain a New York address at a friends place for tax purposes. Would I require a lease agreement for either a K3 or 1R1/CR1? Would having a friend who owns a house who could make some type of statement saying that we may claim his location as a domicile work? Any advise on this?

Thank you all for your time and understanding.